Hygiene Rules Research Articles

MODERN APPROACHES TO TEACHING HAND HYGIENE IN HIGHER MEDICAL EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Compliance with hand hygiene principles is crucial in preventing infections associated with medical care, both in pre-hospital settings and medical institutions. Inadequate knowledge of hand hygiene can lead to poor compliance with preventive measures, resulting in an increased risk of hospital-acquired infections and complications for patients. The acquisition of knowledge on hygiene, particularly hand hygiene, by students at higher medical education institutions is always an important issue.
 Junior students in higher medical education institutions may lack theoretical knowledge and practical skills in hygiene, especially in preventing the transmission of infectious diseases. Since students frequently visit medical institutions and hospitals, a lack of hygiene knowledge among them can increase the spread of infections. Therefore, increasing the level of knowledge on this issue is essential, with a focus on the importance of hygiene in hospitals and its impact on patient safety. Improving knowledge of personal hygiene rules, particularly hand hygiene, among students during clinical training is critical to reducing the spread of nosocomial infections.
 In teaching hygiene, particular attention should be paid to the "Instructions for the Implementation of Improving Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Facilities and Institutions/Institutions Providing Social Services/Social Protection of the Population." A trained and experienced medical instructor plays a significant role in imparting such knowledge, using different teaching methods in accordance with their acquired skills. Educational programs in hygiene and clinical disciplines should be improved, with the latest modern guidelines included to prevent the spread of infection in healthcare facilities and develop a sense of personal responsibility among students for compliance with hygiene rules

Санитарные условия, медицинское обслуживание и инфекционные болезни в Коми крае во второй половине XIX-начале XX века

The paper examines the sanitary conditions and medical care of the population in the Komi region in the second half of the XIX-early XX centuries and summarizes the factual material on incidence of infectious diseases among the inhabitants of the region. The paper presents factors that influenced morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases, analyzes measures to improve the sanitary and epidemic situation in the region.
 The general situation with infectious diseases and morbidity strongly influenced the life time and mortality rate of population in the study period. The introduction of sanitary and hygienic concepts and rules, development of the system of medical institutions, vaccination and control of epidemics apparently started to have a decreasing effect on the mortality from infectious diseases. The total mortality rate of the population remained high but the mortality of the urban population by the beginning of the XX century began to decrease gradually. Such relatively simple measures as the abandonment of surface water consumption, construction of public wells and improvement of principal sanitary and hygienic conditions, significantly contributed to the decreased mortality cases from infectious diseases.

Multi-resistant Bacteria to Antibiotics in Hospitals: The Case of Neonatology Services of the University Hospitals Centers of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

Background: Multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDR) represent a global health scourge. Their emergence in hospital services complicates the clinical management of infections caused in particular in immunocompromised persons. The objective of our work was to evaluate the prevalence of MDR in the neonatal services of the University Hospitals Centers of Abidjan.
 Materials and Methods: The present study took place from September to November 2020 and from January to June 2021. The samples collected consisted of venous blood samples for blood cultures, rectal swabs from newborns, nasal and hand swabs from health care workers, and swabs from inert surfaces and neonatal care equipment. Bacterial identification methods, antibiotic susceptibility testing, and Chi-square testing were performed.
 Results: A total of 513 samples were obtained from which 215 organisms were isolated and identified. These bacteria consisted of 52.1% Gram-negative bacilli, of which 77.7% were Enterobacteriaceae and 47.9% Gram-positive cocci. Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) (25.6%), coagulase-Negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) (24.6%), and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) (23.2%) were the most isolated bacteria. The overall prevalence of MDR was 73.9%. The main antibiotic resistance phenotypes described were the production of Broad Spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) in 71.9% of Enterobacteriaceae and methicillin resistance (Meti-R) in 75.6% of Staphylococcus. ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae (E-ESBL) were mainly observed in rectal carriage and Meti-R strains in blood cultures in newborns in the respective proportions of 45.6% and 56.4%.
 Conclusion: In our work, the results obtained showed a high prevalence of MDR in neonatal services and newborns are the most affected subjects. Improving hygiene rules and control and rationalizing the use of antibiotics are highly recommended control strategies to reduce the hospital dissemination of MDR.

ROADSIDE DELIGHTS: EXPLORING THE RISE AND IMPACT OF FOOD TRUCKS ON THE CULINARY LANDSCAPE IN BANGALORE

Bengaluru's food truck industry has undergone substantial changes since the end of the pandemic. Food truck owners have had to change how they provide service to their clients in response to the advent of new safety procedures. To lower the danger of transmission, several food truck businesses have switched to internet ordering and contactless payments. In order to protect the health of its patrons, food truck operators must now adhere to tougher sanitation and hygiene rules. Despite these difficulties, Bengaluru's food truck business has persisted in its growth, with several owners coming up with creative solutions to cater to the shifting consumer demands. Keywords: Online ordering, Customer needs, Hygiene, etc.,

Socioeconomic and risk-related drivers of compliance with measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection: evidence from the Munich-based KoCo19 study

ObjectivesAlthough a growing share of the population in many countries has been vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 virus to different degrees, social distancing and hygienic non-pharmaceutical interventions still play a substantial role in containing the pandemic. The goal of this study was to investigate which factors are correlated with a higher compliance with these regulations in the context of a cohort study in the city of Munich, southern Germany, during the summer of 2020, i.e. after the first lockdown phase.MethodsUsing self-reported compliance with six regulations and personal hygiene rules (washing hands, avoiding touching face, wearing a mask, keeping distance, avoiding social gatherings, avoiding public spaces) we extracted two compliance factor scores, namely compliance with personal hygiene measures and compliance with social distancing regulations. Using linear and logistic regressions, we estimated the correlation of several socio-demographic and risk perception variables with both compliance scores.ResultsRisk aversion proved to be a consistent and significant driver of compliance across all compliance behaviors. Furthermore, being female, being retired and having a migration background were positively associated with compliance with personal hygiene regulations, whereas older age was related with a higher compliance with social distancing regulations. Generally, socioeconomic characteristics were not related with compliance, except for education, which was negatively related with compliance with personal hygiene measures.ConclusionsOur results suggest that for a targeted approach to improve compliance with measures to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection, special attention should be given to younger, male and risk-prone individuals.

Indokolt-e a spermaminták bakteriológiai szűrése in vitro fertilizáció előtt?

The number of couples seeking assisted reproductive technologies is increasing worldwide. The question of whether routine bacteriological screening of semen is necessary during the investigation and treatment of infertility is controversial. The semen sample often contains bacteria even if the hygiene rules for collection are followed. There is a growing number of studies dealing with the importance of the semen microbiome. Bacteriospermia can result not only from infection but also from contamination or colonization. Symptomatic infections or sexually transmitted diseases should be treated, but the relevance of asymptomatic positive cultures is controversial. Several studies have suggested that urinary tract infections may play a role in male infertility and that the quality of semen may be impaired by elevated bacterial or white blood cell counts. However, there are conflicting results on the effect of the treatment of bacteriospermia and leukocytospermia on sperm quality. Semen contaminated with microbes may also infect the embryos, thus compromising the success of treatment. In contrast, most studies have found no significant difference in the effectiveness of in vitro fertilization treatment in the presence or absence of bacteriospermia. This can be explained by the sperm preparation techniques, the antibiotic content of the culture media and the use of the intracytoplasmatic sperm injection technique. Thus, the need for routine semen culture before in vitro fertilization treatment and the management of asymptomatic bacteriospermia is questionable. Orv Hetil. 2023; 164(17): 660-666.

Influence of the Size and Location of the Perforation on the Anatomical Results of Myringoplasty.

Type 1 tympanoplasty (myringoplasty) is the surgical closure of a perforated eardrum.Its purpose is to restore the integrity of the tympanic membrane and to improve hearing in the affected ear. Nowadays, we note the increasing use of cartilage as material for the reconstruction of the tympanic membrane. The main objective of our study is to evaluatethe influence of size and perforation site on the results of type 1 tympanoplasties performed in our department. We carried out a retrospective study of a series of myringoplasties spread over a period of four years and five months from January 1, 2017, to May 31, 2021. For every patient, we collected data regarding age, sex, perforation size, location, and closure of the tympanic membrane after myringoplasty. The audiological results for air conduction (AC) and bone conduction (BC), as well as air-bone gap reduction following surgery, were noted. Follow-up audiograms were performed at the following intervals: two months, four months, and eight months postoperatively. The frequencies tested included 250, 500, 1000, 2000, and 4000 Hz. Similarly, the air-bone gap was estimated on the mean of all frequencies.A chi-squared test and Mann-Whitney test were used to compare qualitative and quantitative variables, respectively. A total of 123 myringoplasties were included in this study. Closure of the tympanic membrane was achieved successfully in 85.7% for one-quadrant-size perforations (24 cases), and in 76.2% for two-quadrant-size perforations (16 cases). When 50-75% of the tympanic membrane was absent at the time of diagnosis, full repairment was achieved in 89.6% of the patients (n = 24), and in 85.0% (n = 34) when the perforation was subtotal. Recurrences have not happened more significantly for one location of the tympanic defect compared to another. Indeed, failures for anterior quadrant perforations were 14 whereas other sites represented 19 cases of non-integrated grafts. The audition was significantly improved from pre-operatively (AC mean of 48.7 dBs with ranges from 24 to 90 dBs) to post-operatively (30.7 dBs AC with ranges from 10-80 dBs) (p = 0,002). The average postoperative audiometric Rinne was 18 dBs with a gain of 15.37 dBs. Patients with bilateral perforations (tubal dysfunction, allergic rhinitis) are more likely to develop recurrences. Thus, the series considering many patients operated on twice has high failure rates. Good compliance with anti-allergic treatment and with hygiene rules (in particular ear sealing) is essential for the closure of anterior perforations. It seems through our study that there is no correlation between the size and location of the perforation and its postoperative closure. Risk factors such as smoking, anemia, intraoperative bleeding, and gastroesophageal reflux are important and determining in the healing process.

Axiosphere of Social Advertising Poster about Coronavirus in Russia and China

The axiogenic situation of the pandemic is considered based on the material of social advertising of two countries — Russia and China. The thesis is advanced that the coronavirus pandemic can be considered as a referent that allows a value-marked interpretation. The purpose of the work is to identify a set of universal values objectified in social advertising; characterize verbal and visual codes as means of expressing valuable meanings; determine national specifics of advertising.400 Russian and Chinese advertising texts served as the material for the observations. As a result of the analysis, it was revealed that the axiological space of advertising of both countries is constructed by a set of valuable meanings, united by the absolute value of being — the concept of LIFE. It is noted that the structure of advertising discourse is based on the dichotomy of biological and social. The key value, along with life and its protection, was the strength of unity and cohesion of the nation in the face of a mortal threat. The value of the heroic is objectified in the image of medical workers. It was revealed that Chinese advertising is characterized by a language game associated with homonymy and the transformation of phraseological units, and the absence of weakly creolized texts with a strong cultural and historical component of the visual series. It is concluded that Russian advertising revives the style of the Soviet poster when promoting sanitary and hygienic rules.

Contribution of MALDI‐TOF‐MS‐based principal component analysis for distinguishing foodborne pathogens

AbstractFoodborne diseases are important to determine bacteria in strain level, which are analyzed by library‐based devices and bioinformatics‐enabled. The aim of this study was to investigate the contribution of principal component analysis (PCA) with matrix‐assisted laser desorption ionization time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MALDI‐TOF‐MS) to distinguish according to the differences of bacterial strains as rapidly screening of foodborne bacteria. The MALDI‐TOF‐MS‐based PCA analysis was used for differentiating bacterial strains isolated from ready‐to‐eat foods. According to the results of PCA analysis, the percentages of distance and proximity between species were evaluated by composite correlation indexes (CCI). Bacillus cereus were detected in burghul salad (BC1) and macaroni salad (BC2) taken from the SB2‐snack bar, and the similarity rate was determined as 97%. Three other B. cereus bacteria (BC3, BC4, and BC5) in the same cluster were also isolated from salads collected from SB4‐snack bar. The similarity of Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria, which have the codes KP1 and KP2, isolated from macaroni salad and burghul salad taken from the SB2 snack bar respectively were 96%. Additionally, the CCI values of two E. coli strains in burghul (EC1) salad and Russian salad (EC2) in the same sampling point (SB1) were determined as 97%. In conclusion, this analysis with MALDI‐TOF‐MS based PCA has revealed the relationships between bacteria genera and species, beyond just the identification of bacteria and the rapid screening of bacteria in perishable foodstuffs. Similarities between bacterial strains identified for different samples from the same sampling point suggested that there were not adequate hygiene rules and storage requirements were not followed.

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric patients with otitis media with effusion

Otitis media with effusion (OME) is a frequently self-limiting middle ear fluid accumulation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a decrease in patient referrals to pediatric Otorhinolaryngology (pENT) outpatient clinics. The aim of this study was to compare the patients who presented at our pENT outpatient clinic with OME during the pandemic with patients who presented during the equivalent period before the pandemic, and to investigate the effects of pandemic measures on OME. The study included patients aged 1-15 years who presented at the pENT Outpatient Clinic due to OME. Four groups were created based on the date of March 2020, when the first COVID-19 case was recorded in Turkey. The groups were formed as one for each year from March 2018 to March 2022. The total number of patients admitted to the pENT outpatient clinic was recorded. Group 1 (March 2018-March 2019) included 1338 patients diagnosed with OME, which constituted 12% of the total number of patients. Group 2 (March 2019- March 2020) included 1238 patients, Group 3 (March 2020-March 2021) 241 (8%), and Group 4 (March 2021-March 2022) 432 (9.4%). From this study, it was observed that the greater attention paid to the mask, social distance and hygiene rules during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the implementation of distance education decreased the frequency of upper respiratory tract infections, and had a positive effect on the number of OME cases.

Prevalence of Burnout among Teachers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Meta-Analysis.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many studies have found that there has been a lot of teacher overload. One of the additional burdens has been that they have had to teach online. In addition, when they returned to face-to-face classes, they had to follow all the hygiene rules so that the COVID-19 virus would not spread. It is therefore not surprising that, during this pandemic period, high levels of psychological symptoms have been reported among teachers. Among this symptomatology, burnout has been very frequent among teachers. Therefore, the aim of this study is to conduct a meta-analysis to determine the overall prevalence of burnout among teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. For this purpose, a search was conducted for cross-sectional studies listed in PubMed from 1 December 2019 to 14 February 2022 that reported on the prevalence of burnout among teachers. A total of nine studies from eight different countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America, were included in this study. The pooled prevalence of burnout among teachers was 52% (95% CI 33-71%), which is higher than burnout rates reported for health professionals. There was significant heterogeneity between studies (I2 = 99%, p-value < 0.001), and the prevalence of burnout was higher in women and school teachers (compared to university educators), and lower in American studies. This meta-analysis concludes that teachers worldwide experienced a high rate of burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic. This has implications not only for the teachers themselves, but also for the quality of the education they were able to provide. This education has an influence on the student population. The possible long-term effects are yet to be determined.

When citizens get fed up. Causes and consequences of issue fatigue – Results of a two-wave panel study during the coronavirus crisis

Abstract In the context of the long-lasting coronavirus crisis, this study examines the occurrence, causes, and consequences of issue fatigue – a phenomenon that refers to a feeling of annoyance with an issue that is repeated continually in the news. Using data obtained from a representative two-wave panel survey conducted online in April and May 2020 (n = 1,232) in Germany, the study employed a cross-lagged panel model to examine longitudinal relations. First, the results indicate that a considerable share of the German population already felt fatigued with the coronavirus issue in April, and that this proportion increased by May. Second, in terms of causes, the results show that perceptions of low news credibility and perceived “victimization” of other topics caused high levels of issue fatigue. However, effects of the reverse direction were also present, pointing to a mutual reinforcement of issue fatigue and media perceptions. Third, regarding consequences, the results reveal that recipients experiencing issue fatigue increasingly avoided coronavirus news, and also tended to disregard coronavirus hygiene rules.

Parasites et aliments, surveillance et moyens de maîtrise en France

AbstractThe basis of our diet comes from various sources (plants, meat, fish, molluscs) which can be contaminated by various pathogens (bacteria, viruses, parasites). Among them, parasites are the least sought-after hazards in food, especially because of the lack of standardized detection tools. Yet many parasites present in the food we eat are potentially present and cause sometimes serious diseases. These parasites are often resistant to many inactivation processes used by the food industry. Nevertheless, core cooking and freezing remain effective control methods when the time-temperature scales are sufficient. Measures to prevent human contamination may be given to consumers, including compliance with hygiene rules and cooking/freezing of food consumed. The main microbiogical parasitics hazards that can contaminate food in metropolitan France and in the overseas departments will be described here.

Can fish scales be a potential source of pathogenic microorganisms for human health

Abstract: Resistance of fish to diseases in natural conditions is much higher than in artificial breeding conditions. The appearance of pathogenic bacterial flora in fish in combination with dangerous parasites is the result of a biocenotic imbalance. One of the factors causing fish diseases are abiotic factors. Human interference in fish farming (e.g. feeding, fertilizing, aeration) sometimes also disturbs this balance. Decaying food and plant debris promote putrefactive processes and the creation of favorable conditions for pathogenic microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, fungi and also specific protozoa that threaten fish health and often lead to their sleep. Being in the natural environment, fish carry diseases between themselves and other organisms living in the aquatic environment, such as snails, crayfish, etc. Catching from natural conditions to artificial conditions for culinary and demonstration purposes (domestic aquariums or in zoos) can cause many dangerous zoonoses for humans. The review of the work discusses the main fish diseases induced by bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens found on fish scales that can cause zoonotic diseases in humans. Therefore, their knowledge of the scales, their color, shape and stiffness may indicate specific fish diseases caused by the pathogenic microorganisms described in this paper. The most frequently mentioned pathogenic and potentially pathogenic bacterial agents isolated from fish include: mycobacteria (Mycobacterium spp.), streptococci (Streptococcus iniae), vibrio vulnificus (Vibrio spp.), Aeromonas spp., Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium botulinum and many more. Careless aquarists who do not follow certain hygiene rules may become victims of opportunistic bacteria. The aim of the article is to present the current state of knowledge regarding fish diseases and their health implications for humans. Typically, ichthyosis infections are most common among aquarists and swimming pool users. Knowledge about human infections caused by fish scales is insufficient, diagnostic procedures are late and often ineffective, and therapy is long and difficult. Tropical fish placed on the market in an aquarium should have a certificate that they are free from mycobacteria and other potential diseases that threaten human health and life. Therefore, this study clarifies these issues

Pandemic COVID 19 and healthcare professionals: Mental health impact and depression

IntroductionThe SARS-COV2 pandemic represents a problematic and disruption of global health. Repeated exposure to stressful situations leads to increased psychological distress.ObjectivesTo determine the psychoaffective impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the mental health of health professionals in Tunisia, assess the intensity of depressive symptoms professionals and determine factors associated with the development of these symptoms.MethodsThis was a multicenter, cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study conducted among health professionals, from May 2nd, 2020 to June 30th, 2020 in Tunisia. The health professionals included were physicians, nurses, dentists, and pharmacists. Using an electronic form &lt;&lt; Google Form &gt;&gt;, a questionnaire was drawn up with 32 items. Assessment of depressive symptoms was performed using the PHQ-9 psychometric scale.Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 21.0 statistical software. Regarding the analytical study, a professional with a PHQ-9 scale score between 10 and 27 was considered as having moderate to severe depressive symptoms while a score between 15-27 was in favor of severe depressive symptoms.ResultsCaregivers were predominantly female 69.5% with a mean age of 30.74 years. Anxiety-depressive psychiatric history was found in 11.8% of the subjects. The majority of the professionals were doctors (77.8%) and 9.4% of the participants were nurses. The majority of participants worked in university hospitals (84.2%). One third of the participants, (34.3%) worked in departments with Covid-19 patients with respective rates of 57% for nurses and 36% for physicians. Dentists and pharmacists did not work in Covid-19 circuits.The mean score on the PHQ-9 scale was equal to 8.62 ± 5.35. Depressive symptoms were noted in 37.4% of the professionals, with moderate to severe intensity in 35.5% of cases. Participants with a psychiatric history of depression or anxiety disorder had significantly higher depressive symptom scores (p&lt;0.001) with 6 times higher the risk of developing moderate to severe depressive symptoms (p&lt;0.0001, OR 6.25, CI [2.35-16.61] and almost 3 times higher the risk of experiencing severe depressive symptoms (p=0.05, OR=2.93, CI [1.09-7.88]). The nursing profession had high odds ratios for the occurrence of moderate to severe depressive symptoms (p=0.002, OR=4.41, CI [1.58-12.28]) and severe depressive symptoms (p=0.02, OR=3.82, CI [1.28-11.39]). A significant relationship was established, between the development of depressive symptoms of moderate to severe intensity with the history of depressive disorder or anxiety disorder (p=0.001) and the nursing profession (p=0.01).ConclusionsThe optimization of prevention, the creation of specific treatment, the promotion of health education and specific hygiene rules would participate in improving the mental health of health professionals.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

A low-threshold sleep intervention for improving sleep quality and well-being.

Approximately one-third of the healthy population suffer from sleep problems, but only a small proportion of those affected receive professional help. Therefore, there is an urgent need for easily accessible, affordable, and efficacious sleep interventions. A randomized controlled study was conducted to investigate the efficacy of a low-threshold sleep intervention consisting of either (i) sleep data feedback plus sleep education or (ii) sleep data feedback alone in comparison with (iii) no intervention. A total of 100 employees of the University of Salzburg (age: 39.51 ± 11.43 years, range: 22-62 years) were randomly assigned to one of the three groups. During the 2-week study period, objective sleep parameters were assessed via actigraphy. In addition, an online questionnaire and a daily digital diary were used to record subjective sleep parameters, work-related factors, as well as mood and well-being. After 1 week, a personal appointment was conducted with participants of both experimental group 1 (EG1) and experimental group 2 (EG2). While the EG2 only received feedback about their sleep data from week 1, the EG1 additionally received a 45-min sleep education intervention containing sleep hygiene rules and recommendations regarding stimulus control. A waiting-list control group (CG) did not receive any feedback until the end of the study. Results indicate positive effects on sleep and well-being following sleep monitoring over the course of 2 weeks and minimal intervention with a single in-person appointment including sleep data feedback. Improvements are seen in sleep quality, mood, vitality, and actigraphy-measured sleep efficiency (SE; EG1), as well as in well-being and sleep onset latency (SOL) in EG2. The inactive CG did not improve in any parameter. Results suggest small and beneficial effects on sleep and well-being in people being continuously monitored and receiving (actigraphy-based) sleep feedback when paired with a single-time personal intervention.

Voice capabilities of the singer and her hygiene rules

This article provides detailed information about the reforms in our country, the attention paid to the art of music, in particular, the development of the art of singing, the singer’s voice, sounds, sound waves, and types of sound.

Impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on the treatment of psoriasis with systemic therapies in France: Results from the PSOBIOTEQ cohort

BackgroundThe nature of the COVID-19 pandemic led to concerns among patients and physicians about the potential impact of immunosuppressive treatments for chronic diseases such as psoriasis on the risk of severe COVID-19. ObjectivesTo describe treatment modifications and determine the incidence of COVID-19 infection among psoriasis patients during the first wave of the pandemic, and identify the factors associated with these events. MethodsData from PSOBIOTEQ cohort relating to the first COVID-19 wave in France (March to June, 2020), as well as a patient-centred COVID-19 questionnaire, were used to evaluate the impact of lockdown on changes (discontinuations, delays or reductions) in systemic therapies, and to determine the incidence of COVID-19 cases among these patients. Logistic regression models were used to assess associated factors. ResultsAmong the 1751 respondents (89.3%), 282 patients (16.9%) changed their systemic treatment for psoriasis, with 46.0% of these changes being initiated by the patients themselves. Patients were more likely to experience psoriasis flare-ups during the first wave if they changed their treatment during this period (58.7% vs 14.4%; P < 0.0001). Changes to systemic therapies were less frequent among patients with cardiovascular diseases (P < 0.001), and those aged ≥ 65 years (P = 0.02). Overall, 45 patients (2.9%) reported having COVID-19, and eight (17.8%) required hospitalization. Risk factors for COVID-19 infection were close contact with a positive case (P < 0.001) and living in a region with a high incidence of COVID-19 (P < 0.001). Factors associated with a lower risk of COVID-19 were avoiding seeing a physician (P = 0.002), systematically wearing a mask during outings (P = 0.011) and being a current smoker (P = 0.046). ConclusionsDiscontinuation of systemic psoriasis treatments during the first COVID-19 wave (16.9%) – mainly decided by patients themselves (46.0%) – was associated with a higher incidence of disease flares (58.7% vs 14.4%). This observation and factors associated with a higher risk of COVID-19 highlight the need to maintain and adapt patient–physician communication during health crises according to patient profiles, with the aim of avoiding unnecessary treatment discontinuations and ensuring that patients are informed about the risk of infection and the importance of complying with hygiene rules.

COVID 19 pandemisinde okul öncesi çocukların ve ailelerinin maske kullanım tutumları

Aim: The use of face masks, compliance with hygiene and distance rules were among the leading measures during pandemic. But some authorities didn’t recommend face masks to preschool children. In this study we aimed to evaluate the attitudes of preschool children and their families towards face masks.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: We performed a survey between February-March 2022 to 189 volunteer participants who have preschool children,in pediatric health and diseases outpatient clinics in two different centers. Survey was consisted of 40 questions and 4 parts: 1. Demographic characteristics 2. Covid 19 3. Use of face masks 4.Compliance with hygiene and distance rules&#x0D; Results: Fifty three percent of the children used face mask. It was observed that the presence of a family member obsessed with cleaning caused a statistically higher increase in the number of handwashing in children(p:0,019). Mothers who were university graduates taught the children more distance rules(p.0.014), the number of handwashing increased in their children (:0.001) and the rate of using face masks was higher (p:0.036). Having a family member who have had Covid 19 was inversely proportional to the use of face masks in children (p:0.001) and correct use (p:0.033). It was observed that the rate of wearing masks was higher in children who used glasses (92%, p:0.006).&#x0D; Discussion: Half of the preschool children used face masks regularly. Covid 19 rate was higher in the families whose children didn’t use face masks in community. Face masks can be recommended to preschool children who can use it, during the pandemic.

A study on precautions to be taken in the event of a pandemic in the mining industry in Turkey

The Covid-19 epidemic, a new species of coronavirus, has taken over the world. Like most industries around the world, the mining industry has a negative impact on this situation, such as stopping their business, loss of production, stopping new projects or postponing them, and their employees being infected by the epidemic. In this study, measures to be taken in the mining industry in Turkey have been attempted. In the study, the measures set out are to update the risk assessment according to the epidemic, identify the responsible people, arrange the work plan, set rules to be followed in vehicles, inform employees, organize training content, establish and apply hygiene rules, set rules to be observed in the workplace, limit interaction between employees and establish and apply rules related to common use. With the implementation of these rules, the Covid-19 outbreak is expected to reduce the impact on the mining industry in Turkey. The Covid-19 epidemic has no mining workers in Turkey who have been affected by this virus, but have died from this epidemic.