High Prevalence Of Infectious Diseases Research Articles

Vaccines and vaccination in prison settings: availability and model of service delivery in 20 European countries.

Prisons, due to various risk factors, are environments that are conducive to infectious disease transmission, with significantly higher prevalence of infectious diseases within prisons compared to the general population. This underscores the importance of preventive measures, particularly vaccination. As part of the international project "Reaching the hard-to-reach: Increasing access and vaccine uptake among the prison population in Europe" (RISE-Vac), this study aimed to map the availability and delivery framework of vaccination services in prisons across Europe and beyond. A questionnaire designed to collect data on the availability and delivery model of vaccination services in prisons was validated and uploaded in SurveyMonkey in July 2023. Then, it was submitted to potential participants, with at least one representative from each European country. Potential participants emailed an invitation letter by the RISE-Vac partners and by the European Organization of Prison and Correctional Services (EUROPRIS). Twenty European countries responded. Vaccines are available in European countries, although their availability differs by country and type of vaccine. The first dose is offered to people living in prisons (PLP), mostly within one month, COVID-19 is the most widely offered vaccine. In all countries, vaccines are actively offered by healthcare workers; in most countries, there is no evaluation of vaccination status among people who work in prison. The survey shows variance in vaccine availability for PLP and staff across countries and vaccine types. Quality healthcare in prisons is not only a matter of the right to health but also a critical public health investment: enhancing vaccine uptake consistently among PLP and staff should be prioritized.

Self-reported tuberculosis in Ecuador’s prisons: an analysis of its prevalence and determinants in 2022

Purpose Despite the growing prison population in South America and the high prevalence of infectious diseases, there is limited evidence on the factors associated with self-reported tuberculosis (TB) in this population. This study aims to identify the factors associated with self-reported TB among inmates in all prisons across Ecuador. Design/methodology/approach The 2022 Prison Census was used. The presence of TB was self-reported based on the question: Has any doctor diagnosed you with any of the following diseases: Tuberculosis? Prevalence ratios (PR) were obtained using crude and multivariable models along with their 95% confidence intervals (CI) using a generalized linear model with random effect at the prison level to assess the association among the study variables. Findings The prevalence of self-reported TB was 4.7%. Socio-demographic factors (prisoners aged between 18 and 29 years and indigenous), clinical factors (human immunodeficiency virus [HIV] infection, diabetes and attempted suicide) and imprisonment characteristics (re-offender, having a medical check-up on admission and being incarcerated for 6 months or more) increased the prevalence of self-reported TB compared with their counterparts. Originality/value This study provides a detailed understanding of the factors contributing to the prevalence of self-reported TB in the prison population of Ecuador. The findings highlight the need for strategies focused on TB control through diagnosis and treatment, management of HIV, diabetes and malnutrition, as well as the restructuring of prison facilities. Implementing these measures is crucial for addressing the identified factors and improving inmate health conditions.

Human Immunodeficiency Virus Co-Infection among Sickle Cell-Exposed Children in Kisumu County, Western Kenya

Globally, the high prevalence of infectious diseases, particularly HIV, and the possible interaction with sickle cell disease, has been of great public health concern. Kenya experiences a significant burden of HIV. Kisumu County in particular, exhibits unique epidemiological burden characterized by unprecedented high mortality 50%-90% among children with sickle cell disease,. This is coupled with high prevalence 17.5% of HIV/AIDS among its population, and high malaria endemicity with prevalence of 19%. The overarching aim of this study was to assess the HIV co-infection among sickle cell-exposed children in Kisumu County. The study adopted a retrospective systematic review. Study population comprised of the sickle cell-exposed children in Kisumu County with a sample size of 173. The study used both purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Majority 99.2% of the sample size participated. The prevalence of HIV among sickle cell-exposed children was 4.65% in Kisumu County. Majority 76.3% sickle cell-exposed children had hemoglobinopathies for sickle cell disease. Age was not statistically significant factor p-value= 0.414 complicating co-infection. A paltry one quarter 49 (28.48%) had attained fifth anniversary with close to a third 47 (27.33%) being only 7 months to one and half years old. Viral load was statistically significant p-value=0.046 in β-thalassemia co-infection. The study recommends enhancement of HIV screening and prevention efforts in this vulnerable population

Common variable immunodeficiency- A delayed diagnosis of an underdiagnosed entity in resource limited setting

We report a case of common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) in a 42-year-old female who presented with history of recurrent rhinosinusitis for the last ten years. Patient had developed cough and progressive dyspnoea for last one year. Patient was admitted with community acquired pneumonia and sputum culture was positive for Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Common variable immunodeficiency was diagnosed ten years after the onset of symptoms. CVID is an underdiagnosed disorder because of the low index of suspicion, lack of awareness, poor facilities for the investigations and higher prevalence of infectious diseases in developing countries. CVID should be suspected in patients with recurrent rhinosinusitis or pneumonia and evaluation of serum immunoglobulins is advised.

Antimicrobial Resistance: Stewardship and One Health in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major threat in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR) due to factors such as the high prevalence of infectious diseases, weak health systems, and the misuse of antimicrobials. This paper aims to discuss how interdisciplinary action and collaboration, specifically through antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and the One Health approach, can effectively address AMR in the EMR. The review focuses on successful AMS initiatives and the adoption of the One Health approach in countries within the EMR, including the Gulf Cooperation Countries (GCC), Egypt, Iran, Jordan, and Pakistan. The goal is to highlight the potential for progress in combating AMR and identify challenges and opportunities for strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration. The results showcase successful AMS programs and One Health initiatives in various EMR countries, demonstrating their potential to address AMR challenges. The paper also discusses the challenges faced by these nations, such as limited resources, fragmented health systems, and knowledge gaps. Additionally, opportunities for enhancing interdisciplinary action through regional cooperation, international partnerships, and research and innovation are outlined. In conclusion, this paper emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive and collaborative response to combat AMR in the EMR. It advocates for the One Health approach as a crucial framework to guide these efforts, promoting coordinated action, improved surveillance, responsible antimicrobial use, and enhanced interdisciplinary collaboration to effectively mitigate the threat of AMR.

Maternal Mortality at Al-Wahda Tertiary Hospital/ Derna -Lybia

Maternal mortality is one of the major challenges which face the developing countries throughout the world. The maternal mortality ratio (MMR) is the main public health indicator that determines the quality of health care services and the women’s status. However, maternal mortality is much higher in developing countries compared to developed nations due to lack of adequate medical care; high prevalence of infectious diseases, higher total fertility rate and due to health care system difference. Countries with high maternal mortality ratio have less reliable vital statistics registry system; as a result level of maternal mortality is usually underestimated and little information is available regarding locally specific risk factors for maternal death. The aim of this study is to calculate, identify the risk factors and the causes of maternal mortality at Al-WhahdaTertiaryhospital/Derna- Libya. This was a retrospective descriptive study of ten years conducted at Al-Wahda hospital Derna,Libya. Detailed retrospective reviews of the data were undertaken from the casenotes of 31782 admissions in the obstetrics unit during 10 years period from 2013 to 2022. The information was retrieved from the case notes available in the medical records department of the hospital as well as from the daily records in the maternity and delivery worlds of the hospital during the study period. There was a total of 31782 deliveries conducted during the study period. The maternal mortality ratio was 34.84 per 100,000 live-births in the year 2013 to 2022. The mean age of maternal deaths was34.36±5.54 years. Most of deaths occur in postpartum period.The major causes of deaths were pulmonary and amniotic fluid embolism followed by postpartum haemorrahge. The maternal mortality is high despite the availability of comprehensive emergency obstetric care at the hospital. Pulmonary and amniotic fluid embolism are the leading causes of death in one of the tertiary care teaching hospitals in Libya.

New threats in the recovery of large carnivores inhabiting human-modified landscapes: the case of the Cantabrian brown bear (Ursus arctos)

Understanding mortality causes is important for the conservation of endangered species, especially in small and isolated populations inhabiting anthropized landscapes where both natural and human-caused mortality may hinder the conservation of these species. We investigated the mortality causes of 53 free-ranging brown bears (Ursus arctos) found dead between 1998 and 2023 in the Cantabrian Mountains (northwestern Spain), a highly human-modified region where bears are currently recovering after being critically threatened in the last century. We detected natural traumatic injuries in 52.63% and infectious diseases in 39.47% of the 38 bears for which the mortality causes were registered, with 21.05% of these cases presenting signs of both infectious diseases and traumas. More specifically, almost 30% of the bears died during or after intraspecific fights, including sexually selected infanticide (10.53%). In addition, primary infectious diseases such as infectious canine hepatitis, distemper, clostridiosis and colibacillosis caused the death of 15.79% of the bears. The number of direct human-caused deaths (i.e., shooting, poisoning, snare) decreased over the study period. This study also reveals three new mortality causes triggered by pathogens, two of which—Clostridium novyi and verotoxigenic Escherichia coli—not previously described in ursids, and the other one, canine distemper virus, never reported in brown bears as cause of death. New management strategies for the conservation of Cantabrian bears, which are urgently needed due to the rapid expansion of the population, should consider the mortality causes described in this study and must promote further research to elucidate how the high prevalence of infectious diseases may threaten the current recovery of the population.

Morbidity among the tribal populations of West Bengal: A study based on data collected from the Mobile Medical Clinic.

Tribes are the most socially excluded group in the nation due to their restricted access to healthcare. There are little data on the real burden and distribution of illnesses among tribes. The present study determines the types and patterns of sickness among tribal populations in West Bengal. Five blocks from five districts in West Bengal were used for this cross-sectional study. Between the years 2018 and 2019, 52,189 patients visited these mobile medical clinics (MMCs), but only 36,128 were included in our study. Data were analyzed using the SPSS software (ver. 27.0). Younger age groups (1-25 years) show higher primary registration compared to other age categories; older age groups (>60 years) show higher repeat registration. High prevalence in infectious diseases (44.5% of the total primary registration) and high repeated cases in NCDs (11.5% to 33.2%), which are nearly three times higher than primary cases (Cramer's V test = 0.29; P = .001) are observed. Among the studied MMCs, Binpur II and Matiali MMC have more than two times the risk of gastrointestinal problems, while Madarihat MMC has more than one time the risk. Garbeta II MMC shows more than three times the risk of NCDs (adjusted odds ratio = 3.97; 95% confidence interval: 3.05-5.17) than the other diseases. The present study shows high prevalence of infectious diseases, injury and pain, NCDs, gastrointestinal problems, and vertigo in tribal populations of West Bengal.

Infectious diseases in Afghanistan: Strategies for health system improvement.

Afghanistan is grappling with a severe health crisis marked by a high prevalence of infectious diseases, particularly tuberculosis, malaria, HIV, and the added strain of the COVID-19 pandemic. The nation's healthcare system, already fragile, faces formidable challenges. Socioeconomic constraints, including limited resources and financial barriers, hinder healthcare accessibility, leading to delayed or inadequate care. Environmental factors, such as poor sanitation and crowded living conditions, exacerbate the transmission of diseases, especially waterborne illnesses. Governance issues, encompassing transparency, corruption, and political instability, disrupt healthcare efficiency and resource allocation. Addressing these multifaceted issues is vital to enhance Afghanistan's healthcare system and overall well-being. The withdrawal of international support has exacerbated these challenges. The primary research goal is to deeply understand Afghanistan's health system, focusing on the major disease burdens: Tuberculosis, Malaria, AIDS, COVID-19, Measles, Hepatitis, and Cholera. The study aims to assess the feasibility and effectiveness of current approaches, presenting a comprehensive view of challenges and opportunities within the Afghan healthcare system. The research concludes by highlighting policy implications, practical implementation, and offering recommendations for future endeavors. This paper provides a thorough analysis of the literature concerning infectious diseases in Afghanistan and the enhancement of the healthcare system in the nation. A systematic exploration of the literature was conducted through PubMed and Google Scholar databases. The search terms used encompassed "Tuberculosis" OR "TB," "Malaria," "acquired immunodeficiency syndrome" OR "AIDS," "Human immunodeficiency virus" OR "HIV," "COVID-19," "Measles," "Hepatitis virus," "Cholera," "Health system improvement," and "Afghanistan." Additionally, external sources like UNICEF, CDC, and WHO were referenced. In conclusion, while improving access to vital medicines and vaccines is crucial for enhancing health outcomes in Afghanistan, significant challenges must be addressed to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of such strategies. The Afghan health system's fragile governance, corruption, logistical complexities, and failure to address broader social and economic factors pose significant risks and obstacles to the implementation of proposed health strategies. Therefore, the strategies discussed in this analysis align with key Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 3, and their successful implementation will have implications not only for the health and well-being of Afghanistan but also for global health. Hence, by adopting a comprehensive approach with complementary interventions as discussed, we can address issues in the Afghan health system and reduce transmissible diseases' burden, thereby building a better world for all.

The Impact of Co-Infections for Human Gammaherpesvirus Infection and Associated Pathologies.

The two oncogenic human gammaherpesviruses Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) cause significant disease burden, particularly in immunosuppressed individuals. Both viruses display latent and lytic phases of their life cycle with different outcomes for their associated pathologies. The high prevalence of infectious diseases in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), particularly HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and more recently, COVID-19, as well as their associated inflammatory responses, could potentially impact either virus' infectious course. However, acute or lytically active EBV and/or KSHV infections often present with symptoms mimicking these predominant diseases leading to misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of oncogenic herpesvirus-associated pathologies. EBV and/or KSHV infections are generally acquired early in life and remain latent until lytic reactivation is triggered by various stimuli. This review summarizes known associations between infectious agents prevalent in SSA and underlying EBV and/or KSHV infection. While presenting an overview of both viruses' biphasic life cycles, this review aims to highlight the importance of co-infections in the correct identification of risk factors for and diagnoses of EBV- and/or KSHV-associated pathologies, particularly in SSA, where both oncogenic herpesviruses as well as other infectious agents are highly pervasive and can lead to substantial morbidity and mortality.

Laboratory Surveillance, Quality Management, and Its Role in Addressing Antimicrobial Resistance in Africa: A Narrative Review.

AMR is a major public health concern that calls for extensive work and a multidisciplinary team approach. The high prevalence of infectious diseases in African nations leads to widespread antibiotic usage and eventual antimicrobial resistance, which has significant negative effects on people's health, the economy, and society. Additionally, inadequate or nonexistent antimicrobial drug regulations, inappropriate prescription practices, and restrictions on public health prevention initiatives such as immunization, water and sanitation, and sexual health may all contribute to the emergence of AMR. Despite the need for laboratory quality assurance, many African laboratories confront substantial difficulties in implementing efficient quality assurance programs. AMR surveillance in Africa is hampered by a lack of laboratory capacity, insufficient data collection and analysis, and poor stakeholder collaboration. Several initiatives and programs, including the World Health Organization's Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS), the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (AMRSNET), and the Fleming Fund, a UK government initiative aimed at tackling AMR in low- and middle-income countries, have been established to strengthen AMR surveillance in Africa and globally.

Maternal mortality in Greece: The evolution from traditional mammis to overmedicalized obstetric care during the 20th century

AbstractGreece has been absent from the literature on maternal mortality in historical Europe, as very little evidence is yet available regarding maternal mortality patterns before the 1950s. The discontinuity in the collection and publication of demographic data in Greece, as well as the nonavailability of continuous national published statistics are the most important reasons for the lack of studies on maternal mortality. Therefore, this study aims to address this gap by utilising annual published statistics at the aggregate level, focusing primarily on the first half of the 20th century, while also making a significant contribution to the postwar period. The results of the study indicate a high incidence of maternal deaths in Greece, particularly in the northern—mostly rural and later annexed—regions of the country until the late 1930s. An important reason may be the lack of obstetric care in these areas. Although major urban centres were primarily served by qualified midwives by the mid‐1920s, rural Greece had access only to untrained midwives due to the insufficient number of trained midwives that could cater the needs of the entire country. Other contributing factors may include the high prevalence of infectious diseases, such as tuberculosis and malaria in certain areas of the country, poor nutritional status throughout the country before the 1950s, low literacy rates, low living standards, and lack of public health infrastructures. Greece's case study is intriguing as it has transitioned from an almost absolute lack of obstetric care, with the exception of the mostly untrained rural midwives known asmammisbefore the 1950s, to becoming one of the most highly medicalised countries in Europe by the end of the 20th century, succeeding very low levels of maternal mortality.

Infectious Morbidity in Closed Long-Term Care Facilities in the «Pre-COVID Stage»

Relevance. Elderly people have become the fastest growing segment of the global population over the past few decades. The number of people over the working age in Russia, and with them citizens living in closed long-term care facilities (CLTFS), is growing. Residents of these organizations belong to the risk group, and CLTFS have a number of characteristics that turn these institutions into a unique environment for the spread of infectious diseases.Aims. To analyze the CLTFS residents infectious morbidity in the "pre-covid stage" (according to literature sources). A scientific review of research in Russian and English using information portals and platforms has been carried out eLIBRARY. ru , Web of Science, PubMed, Google Academy and Scopus for the period 1981-2022. The search was carried out by keywords. Information about the most frequent infectious diseases affecting residents of closed long-term care institutions was the criterion for inclusion in the sample of publications. Out of 16171 initially identified articles, 61 publications were selected after initial analysis.Conclusions. According to various estimates, the leading infectious diseases in CLTFS were: acute respiratory infections, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, skin and mucous infections, acute intestinal infections. The article describes pathogens and their prevalence in CLTFS including pathogens with multiple drug resistance (MDR), describes the resistance of bacteria to antimicrobial drugs formation problem in these organizations, as well as development of certain diseases risk factors. Studies conducted in various CLTFS in Europe, Russia, the USA, and Asia indicate a high prevalence of infectious diseases among their residents, high colonization of residents with antimicrobial-resistant pathogens, as well as the infection transmission probability from the CLTFS and its spread to other long-term care institutions and medical and preventive organizations.

Preventive healthcare among dogs and cats in Chile is positively associated with emotional owner-companion animal bond and socioeconomic factors

Global companion animal population has been increasing as well as the number of dogs and cats being considered as a family member. However, it is unclear whether this close relationship could be associated with higher preventive healthcare in companion animals. Using data from 7,048 questionnaires of dogs and 3,271 of cats from the First National Study on Responsible Companion Animal Ownership, we estimated the proportion of preventive healthcare in companion animals of Chile. We also conducted a general linear mixed-effect regression model to identify socioeconomic factors and indicators of the emotional owners-companion animal bond that could influence owners' practices related to vaccination, parasite control, and veterinary visits. Based on the owner's answers, Chile has a satisfactory overall rates of parasite control (71%) and annual veterinary visits (65%) but a low vaccination coverage of both dogs (39%) and cats (25%). 'Purebred', 'live in urban areas', 'acquired by monetary compensation', and 'dog species' were associated with a higher probability of preventive healthcare in companion animals. Conversely, this probability was lower among senior animals compared to adults, males, and those owned by the Silent Generation or Baby Boomers (i.e., owners born before 1964). 'Sleeping inside', 'acquired for an emotional reason' (e.g., companionship), and 'considered a family member' were positively associated with at least one of assessed preventive measures. Our findings suggest that emotional owner-companion animal bonds could positively impact the frequency and quality of preventive healthcare in dogs and cats. However, owners who totally disagreed that a companion animal is a "family member" were also associated with a higher likelihood of vaccination uptake and veterinary visits for their animals. This highlights that owner's compliance with veterinary preventive healthcare is multifactorial. Chile has a high prevalence of infectious diseases circulating among dogs and cats and increasingly close contacts between owners and companion animals due to emotional bonds. Thus, our study calls for One Health approaches to reduce the risks of cross-species disease transmission. Specifically, increasing vaccination coverage of companion animals in Chile is the most urgent preventive measure needed, especially among cats, males, and older animals. Expand preventive healthcare among dogs and cats will promote public and animal health, including local wildlife that is susceptible to infectious diseases circulating in companion animals.

Persistent Malnutrition among Children under five in Pastoral Communities of Aweil Centre, South Sudan

Malnutrition is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality among children globally, and has been linked to 60% of the 10.9M deaths annually of under-fives. High prevalence of infectious diseases contributes to malnutrition and vice versa making the situation even worse. In WHO’s African region, the median stunting prevalence is 31.3%.
 The worst scenarios are seen in the war tone countries; for example Aweil Center of South Sudan has consistently high malnutrition rates despite running nutrition projects by UN agencies, government and other partners with relative stability. Results from Survey carried out in 2013 indicated poverty levels at 76%, severe acute malnutrition (SAM) prevalence rate of 6.3% (95% CI, 4.5-8.9), Global acute malnutrition (GAM) rate of 22.4% (95% CI, 17.8-27.7) with under five mortality rate of 152 deaths/ 1,000 live births.
 A cross-sectional study with two-stage cluster sampling method done to determine the associated factors of malnutrition among children 6-59 months in Aweil Center County. The results showed high burden of infectious diseases like fever, diarrhea, eye, skin and respiratory tract infections at 94.5% with p-value 0.00022 (95%C.I, 0.1667-0.291). Very low household dietary diversity score of only 24 % (125out of 513 families). There was low coverage of primary health care interventions; e.g. Vitamin A, LLITN and measles vaccinations at 53%, 52.8% and 55% respectively. Accessibility to CBDs for iCCM associated with better nutrition status of children p-value 0.032 and OR 0.62 (95% CI 0.41-0.94). Poor feeding methods, family planning practices; and poor access roads to markets impact on nutrition status of children.
 Multifaceted approach is needed to root out the persistent malnutrition from Aweil Center: Shift from food aid to support of food production, scale up of primary health care and iCCM interventions to include IPT for malnourished children and community awareness on feeding practices and family planning

The high prevalence of infectious diseases among health workers indicates the need for improving surveillance

Resumo Objetivo: estimar soroprevalências de arboviroses, sífilis, HIV e Hepatite B (VHB) em trabalhadores de saúde (TS). Métodos: inquérito entre TS selecionados por amostragem aleatória, em uma cidade da Bahia - Brasil. Pesquisa realizada em 2019 por meio de questionário estruturado, que coletou informações sociodemográficas, ocupacionais e de saúde. Testes imunocromatográficos rápidos foram utilizados para rastrear as infecções; dessa forma, resultados positivos para arboviroses, sífilis, HIV e VHB indicaram soropositividade para a respectiva infecção. Além disso, detecção simultânea de anticorpos para zika (ZIKV) e dengue (DENV) indicou soropositividade para infecção por flavivírus. Resultados: 453 TS foram incluídos, sendo 82,8% do sexo feminino. A maioria (55,1%) relatou contato com material biológico; 5,2% referiram acidentes com material biológico. Encontrou-se soroprevalência de 34,7% (IC95%:30,1-39,4) para dengue, 1,7% (IC95%:0,7-3,4) para zika, 9,9% (IC95%:7,2-13,2) para chikungunya e 39,9% (95%CI:35,2-44,7) para flavivírus (ZIKV+DENV); 21,9% (IC95%:18,1-26,2) foram negativos para todos os arbovírus. Soropositividade para arbovírus aumentou com a idade e foi maior entre agentes de combate a endemias. Três TS testaram positivo para VHB (HBsAg); nenhum para HIV. Conclusão: elevado percentual de TS estava exposto a agentes infecciosos (contato com material biológico e/ou exposição a arbovírus). Entre as condições necessárias à prevenção de infecções no ambiente de trabalho, destacam-se: monitoramento de infecções entre TS, vigilância dos ambientes laborais e medidas de controle de exposições ocupacionais, como disponibilidade de repelentes.

Antibacterial and Antiviral Effects of Ag, Cu and Zn Metals, Respective Nanoparticles and Filter Materials Thereof against Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 and Influenza A Virus.

Due to the high prevalence of infectious diseases and their concurrent outbreaks, there is a high interest in developing novel materials with antimicrobial properties. Antibacterial and antiviral properties of a range of metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) are a promising means to fight airborne diseases caused by viruses and bacteria. The aim of this study was to test antimicrobial metals and metal-based nanoparticles efficacy against three viruses, namely influenza A virus (H1N1; A/WSN/1933) and coronaviruses TGEV and SARS-CoV-2; and two bacteria, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The efficacy of ZnO, CuO, and Ag NPs and their respective metal salts, i.e., ZnSO4, CuSO4, and AgNO3, was evaluated in suspensions, and the compounds with the highest antiviral efficacy were chosen for incorporation into fibers of cellulose acetate (CA), using electrospinning to produce filter materials for face masks. Among the tested compounds, CuSO4 demonstrated the highest efficacy against influenza A virus and SARS-CoV-2 (1 h IC50 1.395 mg/L and 0.45 mg/L, respectively), followed by Zn salt and Ag salt. Therefore, Cu compounds were selected for incorporation into CA fibers to produce antiviral and antibacterial filter materials for face masks. CA fibers comprising CuSO4 decreased SARS-CoV-2 titer by 0.38 logarithms and influenza A virus titer by 1.08 logarithms after 5 min of contact; after 1 h of contact, SARS-COV-2 virus was completely inactivated. Developed CuO- and CuSO4-based filter materials also efficiently inactivated the bacteria Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The metal NPs and respective metal salts were potent antibacterial and antiviral compounds that were successfully incorporated into the filter materials of face masks. New antibacterial and antiviral materials developed and characterized in this study are crucial in the context of the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and beyond.

PENGARUH SOSIALISASI SOP ALAT PELINDUNG DIRI (APD) TERHADAP PERILAKU PERAWAT RUANG ICU DALAM PENGGUNAAN APD

Nurses as health workers can protect themselves from contact with infectious materials or exposure to infectious diseases by having knowledge of the infection process and proper barrier protection. The high number of work accident cases and the high prevalence of infectious diseases are indicators of the importance of nurses applying standard precautions. The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of socializing the use of PPE on the behavior of ICU Nurses in the use of PPE (Handscoon, Mask, Gown). This study uses a pre-experimental design in the form of a one group pretest-posttest design. The research sample of 35 respondents was taken using saturation sampling technique. There is a significant difference between before and after the socialization of PPE SOPs on the behavior of nurses in the use of PPE (Handscoons, Masks, Gowns) both on the 3rd and 6th day observations after the intervention was carried out with a p value of 0.000. Suggestions for hospital management to routinely hold PPE SOP socialization once a month so that the safety behavior of nurses, especially in the use of PPE can be maintained or increased as an effort to prevent nosocomial infections.Keywords: Use of PPE, Nurse Behavior, PPE SOP socialization

Gross necropsy, histopathology, and ancillary test results from neonatal beef calves submitted to a veterinary diagnostic laboratory.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of abnormal findings in gross necropsy, histopathology, and ancillary test results from neonatal beef calves submitted to a veterinary diagnostic laboratory. This retrospective clinical case study was conducted by reviewing necropsy reports submitted between 2015 to 2020. Case inclusion criteria were animals had to be a bovine, 2 to 21 days of age, and a nondairy breed. Gross necropsy, histopathology, and laboratory test results were recorded. Identified lesions and abnormal test results were categorized based on body systems and infectious agent type. Age and system affected were analyzed using a 1-way ANOVA and Bonferonni pairwise comparisons. Overall, 1,060 reports were reviewed and 95 met the inclusion criteria. Median age of enrolled calves was 9 days (range, 2 to 21). A total of 252 lesions were identified with a median of 3 lesions/calf (range, 0 to 7) and 2 different body systems involved/calf (range, 0 to 5). The most common disorders were classified as digestive (42.1% [106/252]), respiratory (12.7% [32/252]), and multisystemic (11.1% [28/252]). With respect to age and system affected, calves with neurologic lesions were significantly younger (mean age, 5.1 days) than calves with digestive lesions (mean age 9.6 days). These data suggest a high prevalence of infectious diseases, mainly digestive, respiratory and multisystemic in origin. These findings could help guide producers and veterinarians when assessing factors contributing to neonatal beef calf loss.

Post-COVID-19 condition: current evidence and unanswered questions

Post-COVID-19 condition: current evidence and unanswered questions