Evaluating the efficiency of specimen (sample) pooling for real-time PCR based diagnosis of COVID-19.

PURPOSE: This study is aims at evaluating the efficacy and sensitivity of specimen pooling for testing of SARS-CoV-2 virus to determine the accuracy, resource savings, and identification of borderline positive cases without impacting the accuracy of the testing. METHOD: This study was conducted between August and October 2020, we performed COVID-19 testing by RT-PCR on the samples from varying prevalence of rural population (non-hot spot) referred to COVID laboratory, in the first step, the samples were collated into pools of 5 or 10. These pools were tested by RT-PCR. Negative pools were reported as negative whereas positive pools of 5 and 10 were then de-convoluted and each sample was tested individually. RESULTS: In the present study, we tested 1580 samples in 158 pools of 10 and 17,515 samples in 3503 pools of 5. Among 10 samples pool, 11 (13%) pools flagged positive in the first step. In the second step, among 11 pools (110 samples) de-convoluted strategy was followed in which 10 individual samples came positive. Among 5 samples pool, 164 (13%) pools flagged positive in the first step. In the second step, among 164 pools (820 samples) de-convoluted strategy was followed in which 171 individual samples came positive. The pooled sample testing strategy saves substantial resources and time during surge testing and enhanced pandemic surveillance. This approach requires around 76%-93% fewer tests in low to moderate prevalence settings and group sizes up to 5-10 in a population, compared to individual testing. CONCLUSION: Pooled sample RT- PCR analysis strategies can save substantial resources and time for COVID-19 mass testing in comparison with individual testing without compromising the quality of outcome of the test. In particular, the pooled sample approach can facilitate mass screening in the early asymptomatic stages of COVID-19 infections.

Epidemiological characterization of dermatophytes at a tertiary care hospital in Eastern Uttar Pradesh, India.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Superficial mycosis is more prevalent in tropical and subtropical countries, such as India. Regarding this, the present study was conducted to determine the epidemiology of superficial mycosis and identify the most common dermatophytic species in this region. MATERIALS AND METHODS: For the purpose of the study, a total of 220 skin scraping, nail, and hair root specimens were collected. Direct microscopic examination was performed using potassium hydroxide mount. Additionally, the samples were inoculated onto Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) and dermatophyte test medium (DTM). The fungal colony of each isolates was stained with lactophenol cotton blue mount, and observed under microscope for species identification. RESULTS: Out of 220 isolates, 172 samples, obtained from 108 males 64 females, were positive for skin fungal infections by either KOH mount or culture. Furthermore, 113 isolates were identified as dermatophytes, while 59 samples were found to be non-dermatophytes. Among the dermatophytes isolated from different clinical samples, Trichophyton verrucosum (42/113, 38%) was the most common species, and Tinea corporis was the most common infection (36.2%). CONCLUSION: As the findings indicated, dermatophytes had an isolation rate of 78%, which is higher than normal. This can be due to the fact that the majority of the patients were from a rural background (71.7%) with a low socioeconomic status and poor personal hygiene who were exposed to climatic changes.

Water and sanitation hygiene knowledge, attitude, and practices among household members living in rural setting of India.

BACKGROUND: Rural population in developing countries face water, sanitation, and hygiene-related health issues. To objectively highlight these issues, we studied the knowledge, attitude, and practices-related to drinking water and sanitation facilities among the rural population of Chennai, India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was designed involving individuals over 18 years of age living in Thandalam village, Chennai, India. Basic information about sociodemographic profile and existing drinking water and sanitation related knowledge, attitude, and practices was collected using a modified version of previously validated questionnaire and analyzed. RESULTS: Forty-five percent of the participants were not following any methods of water treatment and among them half of the participants felt that water available to them was clean and did not require any additional treatment. Twenty-five percent of the participants surveyed did not have access to toilets inside their household. CONCLUSION: There is a need for intervention to educate individuals about drinking water treatment methods, sanitation, and hand washing practices.

Assessment of burden of depression during pregnancy among pregnant women residing in rural setting of chennai.

INTRODUCTION: Depression during perinatal period leads to adverse pregnancy outcome and of child growth. Our study aimed to examine the burden of antenatal depression and associated risk factors among pregnant women living in rural settings of Chennai, a southern state of India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A pilot cross-sectional study was conducted in the rural settings of Chennai, one of the Southern States of India during August through September 2013. Hundred pregnant women who agreed to participate were enrolled in this study. Edinburg postnatal depression scale was used to assess the depression level of the study participants. Information was also gathered about socio-demographics, obstetric and disease history, social support and marital satisfaction was gathered. Descriptive analysis was performed using univariate statistics to report means and standard deviations for the continuous variables and frequency distribution for the categorical variables. RESULTS: Majority of the participants (65%) had scored 13 or higher on the Edinburg Depression Scale reflecting high likelihood of depression. Majority of the participants (66%) had been bothered due to low feeling, depressed or hopelessness during the previous month. Enriched marital satisfaction scale (p=.025) had shown significant association with Edinburg depression scale. CONCLUSION: Pregnancy is very crucial period not only for mother but whole family. This study has shown very high frequency of depression among the participants. There is a need for a longitudinal study to design interventions that can address emerging burden of antenatal depression among pregnant women living in rural settings.

Urban rural comparisons of polycystic ovary syndrome burden among adolescent girls in a hospital setting in India.

BACKGROUND: Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is a multifaceted disorder characterized by varying clinical presentations. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine urban and rural differences in the burden of polycystic ovarian syndrome among Indian adolescent females aged 12 to 19 years. METHODS: A pilot cross-sectional study was conducted for a period of one month (August-September 2013) at Balaji Hospital, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India. The final sample included 126 study participants located in various urban (50%, n = 63) and rural (50%, n = 63) settings. Information was gathered on sociodemographic and anthropometric characteristics, clinical history, occurrence of acne and hirsutism, serum testosterone levels, obstetric history, family history of chronic diseases, menstrual history, physical activity, and dietary intake. RESULTS: Eighteen percent of the participants were confirmed of having PCOS by recent guidelines of Rotterdam Consensus for adolescent diagnosis of PCOS (presence of all three elements). Majority of the individuals with PCOS had an average age of 16 (SD = 2) (P = .02) years with an average age of menarche 12 years (SD = 1). CONCLUSION: The proportion of participants diagnosed with PCOS was higher among urban participants in comparison to rural participants.

Quality of diabetes related health information on internet: an Indian context.

Diabetes is a growing public health concern in Indian subcontinent. More and more people are searching internet for health information, however, the quality of internet-based medical information is extremely variable. This study aims to evaluate quality of health information about type-II diabetes mellitus in an Indian context. We used key words 'diabetes', 'diabetes management', 'diabetes prevention' and 'diabetes monitoring' and searched over Google, Yahoo and Bing during August 2011. Two independent reviewers used DISCERN tool to assess quality of health information of the final 84 websites. Majority of the websites were '.com' and DISCERN scores were highest in 'other' category. Inter-rater reliability analysis suggests 81% (N = 17) DISCERN criteria are in substantial agreement between two reviewers. There is no significant difference between two reviewers as well as among four website categories (.com, .edu, .org and others) for reliability of publication, specific details about treatment choices and overall quality rating.