COVID-19 Infected Patients Research Articles

Efficacy and safety of tixagevimab/cilgavimab as passive immunisation against COVID-19 infections in patients with hematological malignancies.

Monoclonal antibodies, as tixagevimab/cilgavimab, have been introduced as prophylaxis against COVID-19 infections in high-risk populations. However, data on efficacy are limited. This study investigates efficacy and tolerability of tixagevimab/cilgavimab in hematological patients under real-life conditions. Tixagevimab/cilgavimab was administered to 155 hematological patients (March-August 2022) at two Austrian centres. S/RBD-antibody assessments were performed before (T0), four weeks (T1), and six months (T2) after application. Side effects, the occurrence of COVID-19 infections, and the course of S/RBD-antibody titres were analysed retrospectively in relation to clinical variables. 155 hematological patients, who refused tixagevimab/cilgavimab, were included as a control group to compare the frequency of COVID-19 infections. Of all immunised patients (52.3% males; 91% triple vaccinated), 25.8% had a COVID-19 breakthrough infection (76% mild) compared to 43.9% in the control group. Patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL)/lymphoma were at highest risk of a COVID-19 infection (OR = 2.21; 95% CI 1.05-4.65; p = 0.037). After immunisation, a steep increase in median antibody levels (1193.4BAU/ml, IQR 0-2318.94) was observed in 67.8%, followed by a rapid decrease between T1 and T2 (465.95BAU/ml, IQR 0-1900.65.3) with the greatest declines in CLL/lymphoma (848.7BAU/ml, IQR 0-1949.6, p = 0.026). Side-effects occurred in 21.2% (CTCAE I/II). These real-world data indicate that S/RBD antibodies respond rapidly after passive immunisation in all hematological patients without safety concerns. Given the rapid decline in S/RBD antibodies, early booster immunisations should be considered for future scenarios in this vulnerable group.

Dural arteriovenous fistula in the setting of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis and COVID-19 infection.

The aim of this study was to examine the presence of concurrent venous thrombosis and COVID-19 infections in patients with dural arteriovenous fistulas (dAVFs). An analysis of all patients diagnosed with dAVF via cerebral angiography by the senior author was conducted, with special attention given to the presence of cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) and COVID-19 infection. General demographics, clinical presentation, presence of CVST, and COVID-19 infection status were reported. A total of 30 patients with dAVFs were included in this study. Three patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 (10%), with one of these patients developing CVST (33%) at 6 months postinfection. Of the 27 patients not infected with COVID-19, one was diagnosed with a likely chronic CVST at the time of presentation of dAVF (4%). A total of 11 case reports and 3 retrospective studies describing patients diagnosed with CVST at or after diagnosis of dAVFs have been reported in the literature. The incidence of dAVFs in patients with CVST has been reported as 2.4%, and the incidence of dAVF has reportedly increased five- to tenfold since the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 infections may pose as an emerging risk factor for the development of CVST and subsequent dAVF development. To the authors' knowledge, this study presents the first cases in the literature describing a temporal relationship between COVID-19 and development of a dAVF with CVST. The effect of both COVID-19 and associated vaccines should be further assessed in future studies to examine its impact as an effect modifier on the association of dAVF and CVST.

Retrospective Assessment of Secondary Bacterial and Fungal Infections in COVID-19 Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Navi Mumbai

Retrospective Assessment of Secondary Bacterial and Fungal Infections in COVID-19 Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Navi Mumbai

Crucial role played by CK8+ cells in mediating alveolar injury remodeling for patients with COVID-19

The high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection and reinfection and the occurrence of post-acute pulmonary sequelae have highlighted the importance of understanding the mechanism underlying lung repair after injury. To address this concern, comparative and systematic analyses of SARS-CoV-2 infection in COVID-19 patients and animals were conducted. In the lungs of nine patients who died of COVID-19 and one recovered from COVID-19 but died of unrelated disease in early 2020, damage-related transient progenitor (DATP) cells expressing CK8 marker proliferated significantly. These CK8+ DATP cells were derived from bronchial CK5+ basal cells. However, they showed different cell fate toward differentiation into type I alveolar cells in the deceased and convalescent patients, respectively. By using a self-limiting hamster infection model mimicking the dynamic process of lung injury remodeling in mild COVID-19 patients, the accumulation and regression of CK8+ cell marker were found to be closely associated with the disease course. Finally, we examined the autopsied lungs of two patients who died of infection by the recent Omicron variant and found that they only exhibited mild pathological injury with no CK8+ cell proliferation. These results indicate a clear pulmonary cell remodeling route and suggest that CK8+ DATP cells play a primary role in mediating alveolar remodeling, highlighting their potential applications as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets.

Gastrointestinal Bleeding in COVID-19 Infected Patients, and Management Outcomes.

Gastrointestinal bleeding in COVID-19-infection poses unique challenges to patients owing to the high risk of concomitant respiratory failure. However, endoscopic care providers are prone to transmission. This study aimed to understand the risk and management outcomes of gastrointestinal bleeding in COVID-19-infected patients. Data were abstracted from electronic patient medical records, using ICD 10 codes, and demographic and clinical data were collected, for COVID-19-infected patients who developed gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding. Complications related to COVID-19 infection and management outcomes of GI bleeding were studied. Statistically, descriptive analysis was used because of the small sample size. Eighteen COVID-19-infected patients developed episodes of GI bleeding, yielding a prevalence of 0.45%. Their mean age was 74.8 years, 55.5% were female, and 66.6% of patients (n=12) had upper GI bleeding symptoms, predominantly melena (55.5%), followed by coffee ground nasogastric aspirates (n=2). Only two patients (11.11%) had episodes of lower GI bleeding, and the remaining four patients (22.2%) had recurrent acute anemia requiring blood transfusion. The Glasgow-Blatchford score (GBS) at presentation ranged between 6 to 16 (mean 8.8) and seven patients (38.8%) underwent endoscopic evaluation for GI bleeding. The predominant comorbid conditions included hypertension (22.2%), diabetes mellitus (27.7%), chronic kidney disease (50%), ischemic heart disease (33%), atrial fibrillation (11.1%), and peripheral vascular disease (11.1%). The median hospitalization was 24.6 days (range: 3-54 days). The 30-day mortality rate in our cohort was 22.2%, (4/18) mainly noted in older patients aged> 60 years with comorbid conditions and severe COVID-19 infection. The prevalence of GI bleeding observed in our cohort was approximately 0.45%, significantly lower than the global prevalence observed, majority (66%) had upper GI bleeding. The exact reasons for the observed low prevalence of GI bleeding cannot be explained and will be the subject of future research.

Design of Immersive Information Simulation of Negative Pressure Isolation Room for Covid-19 Infection Patients Using Virtual Reality

This research aims to provide knowledge about how to create and the need for air circulation in negative pressure isolation rooms. If practiced directly, it will require large costs because it requires costs for procuring space and equipment. By using virtual reality (VR) technology, this problem can be solved because VR can provide an immersive environment like being in the real world. VR users will be able to experience how the requirements and how to create a negative pressure isolation room are like how it feels in the real world. So this can provide information and training on how to make a negative pressure isolation room before making an actual isolation room. Activities using VR will reduce the risk of errors and training costs on how to make an isolation room even without the cost of equipment. The purpose of this research is to provide convenience for health educators and the government on how to make negative pressure isolation rooms and the need for air circulation. So, it is enough to use VR technology, so the information on how to use VR is enough to make the isolation room and its needs work without having to use the right tools. This research method is descriptive and quantitative which begins with a literature review followed by an analysis of the need for isolation rooms and VR immersive environments. The implementation and testing process results in VR technology being able to help understand negative pressure isolation rooms for health workers.

Elevated Serum Levels of SARS-CoV-2 Anti-Spike S1 RBD IgM, IgG, and IgA in Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccinated, COVID-19 Infected, and COVID-19 Infected after Pfizer-BioNTech Vaccinated Individuals after One Month

Background: While protective immunity against some viruses, such as coronaviruses, is relatively short-lived, healing from acute infections of many different viruses, such as those caused by yellow fever, polio, measles, and smallpox, can give cell-mediated and humoral immunity for a lifetime. The main element in the long-term prevention of reinfection by most viruses might be due to the specific antibodies generated by plasma cells. Aim: This study aims to estimate the levels of SARS-CoV-2 Anti-Spike S1 RBD IgM, IgA, and IgG in serum among people in Baghdad after one month of receiving the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus after vaccination and COVID-19 infected patients respectively. Methods: A total of 120 volunteers were enrolled in this study, which was conducted between the 1st of November 2022 and the 13th of January 2023, and they were divided into four groups, each group containing 30 individuals. The study groups were categorized after one month into vaccinated with the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine (BNT162b2), infected with SARS-CoV-2 after Pfizer vaccination, COVID-19 patients, and control. Results: The study presented a significant difference where (P value < 0.05) in the serum levels of Anti-Spike S1 RBD IgM, IgA, and IgG for all groups compared to the control. Serum levels of S1 RBD IgM Anti-Spike of SARS-CoV-2 in all groups were significantly increased (P value >0.05) compared to each other. For Anti-Spike S1 RBD IgA and IgG, there was no significant difference (P value >0.05) between the COVID-19-infected patients group and those infected by SARS-CoV-2 after the Pfizer vaccination group. Positive correlations were found among Anti-Spike S1 RBD IgM, IgA, and IgG levels in the serum. Conclusions: Natural infection by SARS-CoV-2 or vaccination with Pfizer-BioNTech (BNT162b2) provides significant humoral Immunological protection.

Concerning Fungal Coinfections in COVID-19: Risks, Types, and Prevention – A Review

The characteristics of certain fungal infections, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath, may be similar to COVID-19. Laboratory tests are needed to establish whether an individual has a COVID-19 fungal infection. Any patient can experience COVID-19 and simultaneously a fungal infection. People with serious COVID-19 are especially vulnerable to bacterial or fungal infections, such as those in intensive care units (ICUs). Aspergillosis (ASP), invasive candidiasis, is among the most frequent fungal infections in COVID-19 patients. The increased prevalence of these fungal coinfections may be linked with serious disorders and deaths. Knowledge of the potential for fungal coinfection is important to minimize delays in diagnosis and care to help avoid serious diseases and mortality due to these infections.

COVID-19 in pulmonary critically ill patients: metagenomic identification of fungi and characterization of pathogenic microorganisms.

Fungal co-infection is prevalent in critically ill patients with COVID-19. The conventional approach applied to fungal identification has relatively low sensitivity and is time-consuming. The metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) technology can simultaneously detect a variety of microorganisms, and is increasingly being used for the rapid detection and diagnosis of pathogens. In this single-center retrospective study, we described the clinical presentation and outcomes of COVID-19 and mNGS positive for fungi in pulmonary critically ill patients during the outbreak of Omicron infection from December 2022 to January 2023. Among 43 COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) on a single intensive care unit (ICU), 10 were reported to be fungal positive using the mNGS test. The number of pathogenic microorganisms detected by mNGS was significantly higher than that via traditional methods, especially in the detection of fungi and viruses. Aspergillus infection was dominant, and most of these patients also had concurrent bacterial or viral infections. Probable or possible COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis (CAPA) was diagnosed in all 10 patients, and the prognosis was poor. Patients with COVID-19 may be at increased risk of developing fungal infections as well as concurrent bacterial or viral infections, and mNGS can be a powerful tool in identifying these infections. Clinicians should be aware of the increased risk of fungal infections in COVID-19 patients, particularly those who have underlying immunocompromising conditions, and should monitor for early signs of infection.

THE CORRELATION BETWEEN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS WITH BACTERIAL INFECTION IN COVID-19 PATIENTS ADMITTED TO INTENSIVE CARE UNIT AT CENTRAL GENERAL HOSPITAL PROF. DR. I.G.N.G. NGOERAH DENPASAR IN 2021-2022

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) has a detrimental impact on the immune system, resulting in a decrease in the body's immune response, making patients highly susceptible to bacterial infections. Patients with T2DM, especially those treated in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a hospital, face an increased risk of infection. The emergence of COVID-19, which also infects T2DM patients, further diminishes the immune system's function in these patients. Consequently, individuals with both T2DM and COVID-19 are at a heightened risk of developing secondary infections, commonly referred to as Hospital-Acquired Infections.This research aims to explore the relationship between T2DM, assessed through blood sugar levels, and the occurrence of bacterial infections in COVID-19 patients treated in the ICU of Prof. Dr. I.G.N.G. Ngoerah Central Hospital from 2021 to 2022. The research design employed is quantitative analytical correlational study using a cross-sectional approach, with a sample size of 98 patients collected from the Medical Records and Hospital Management System of Prof. Dr. I.G.N.G. Ngoerah Central Hospital in Denpasar. This study found that there is a significant correlation between patient’s infection profile with random blood glucose levels with an Odds Ratio (OR) of 1.15 (95% CI: 1.04 – 1.27; p = 0.013). Additionally, a significant relationship was observed between the severity of COVID-19 and bacterial infections in patients, with an Odds Ratio of 1.12 (95% CI: 1.01 – 1.26; p = 0.04).
 Keywords : T2DM, ICU, Hospital-Acquired Infection

Course of COVID-19 infection in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

Patients with primary adrenal insufficiency due to congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) are at risk for adrenal crisis during infectious illnesses. Increased risk of infection including COVID-19 has been variably reported. To evaluate COVID-19 illness outcomes and stress dose practices in a large cohort of patients with CAH during the first two years of the pandemic and compare observations of COVID-19 infection in patients with CAH to the general USA population. Between March 2020 and November 2022, patients with CAH followed at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center were queried about COVID-19 infection during their routine visits. Cases of COVID-19 were compared to controls. COVID-19 infection rates and symptoms were compared to general USA population data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Of 168 patient visits, there were 54 (32%) cases of COVID-19 infection, and 15 (28%) were pediatric. Overall an association was found between acquiring COVID-19 and obesity (p=0.018), and adults acquiring COVID-19 were on lower doses of fludrocortisone (p=0.008). Fewer cases of COVID-19 infection were reported in those receiving hydrocortisone or modified-release hydrocortisone compared to longer acting glucocorticoids (p=0.0018). In our CAH population, the pattern of COVID-19 infection rates and COVID-related symptomatology were similar to those observed in the general USA population. Most patients with the presumed alpha variant reported anosmia and ageusia, while gastrointestinal symptoms were commonly reported during the delta and omicron waves. Stress dosing occurred in 30/54 cases, and 7 received parenteral hydrocortisone. Two hospitalizations occurred; one pediatric and one adult, both with co-morbidities. There were 5 emergency room visits and no reported deaths. Patients with CAH with close follow-up do not appear to be at increased risk of acquiring COVID-19 or to have a more severe course of COVID-19 compared to the general USA population. Obesity may increase risk of acquiring COVID-19 in patients with CAH, and overall infection risk may be lower in those receiving short-acting and circadian glucocorticoid replacement therapy. Established age-appropriate guidelines for stress dosing during infectious illnesses should be used for patients with CAH and COVID-19. COVID-19 specific guidelines are not indicated. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, identifier NCT00250159.

Detection of Severe Lung Infection on Chest Radiographs of COVID-19 Patients: Robustness of AI Models across Multi-Institutional Data

The diagnosis of severe COVID-19 lung infection is important because it carries a higher risk for the patient and requires prompt treatment with oxygen therapy and hospitalization while those with less severe lung infection often stay on observation. Also, severe infections are more likely to have long-standing residual changes in their lungs and may need follow-up imaging. We have developed deep learning neural network models for classifying severe vs. non-severe lung infections in COVID-19 patients on chest radiographs (CXR). A deep learning U-Net model was developed to segment the lungs. Inception-v1 and Inception-v4 models were trained for the classification of severe vs. non-severe COVID-19 infection. Four CXR datasets from multi-country and multi-institutional sources were used to develop and evaluate the models. The combined dataset consisted of 5748 cases and 6193 CXR images with physicians’ severity ratings as reference standard. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to evaluate model performance. We studied the reproducibility of classification performance using the different combinations of training and validation data sets. We also evaluated the generalizability of the trained deep learning models using both independent internal and external test sets. The Inception-v1 based models achieved AUC ranging between 0.81 ± 0.02 and 0.84 ± 0.0, while the Inception-v4 models achieved AUC in the range of 0.85 ± 0.06 and 0.89 ± 0.01, on the independent test sets, respectively. These results demonstrate the promise of using deep learning models in differentiating COVID-19 patients with severe from non-severe lung infection on chest radiographs.

Can euglycemic Diabetic Ketoacidosis Caused by SGLT2 Inhibitors be avoided in Covid-19 and other acute Infections?

We present a case of anion gap euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis (EuDKA) in a patient with COVID-19 infection. Patients with diabetes mellitus are at increased risk of severe illness, and hyperglycaemia is associated with higher morbidity and mortality in patients infected with COVID-19. A 76-year-old male with diabetes mellitus treated with SGLT2 inhibitor tested positive for COVID-19 infection on day 3 after his admission. In the emergency room he had a high anion gap metabolic acidosis and a blood glucose of 248 mg/dl. His urine tested strongly positive for ketones. A diagnosis of euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis was made and he was treated with intravenous insulin and normal saline; his antidiabetic medications were stopped. His metabolic acidosis gradually resolved, and he was discharged. Euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis is a rare complication of COVID-19 infection. It is defined by the American Diabetes Association as the triad of anion gap metabolic acidosis with arterial pH <7.3, serum bicarbonate <18 mmol/l and ketonuria or ketonemia. It is a life-threatening complication which usually occurs in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients but may also occur in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. As described earlier, it is associated with hyperglycaemia but if blood glucose is low or near normal but <250 mg/dl it is then named euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis. Patients treated with SGLT2 inhibitors are at increased risk of euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis. COVID-19 infection precipitated euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis in our patient. SGLT2 inhibitors must be stopped when this adverse reaction occurs. As their use increases, the risk of this adverse reaction is higher as well. Their prescription should be restricted to trained physicians who are able to educate their patients and treat them appropriately in situations that may arise. COVID-19 infected patients are at increased risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis or euglycemic ketoacidosis when treated with SGLT-2 inhibitors.It is practical to discontinue the drug at the onset of any symptoms consistent with acute infection to prevent the development of euglycemic diabetic ketoacidosis.

Scale based entropy measures and deep learning methods for analyzing the dynamical characteristics of cardiorespiratory control system in COVID-19 subjects during and after recovery

COVID-19, known as Coronavirus Disease 2019 primarily targets the respiratory system and can impact the cardiovascular system, leading to a range of cardiorespiratory complications. The current forefront in analyzing the dynamical characteristics of physiological systems and aiding clinical decision-making involves the integration of entropy-based complexity techniques with artificial intelligence. Entropy-based measures offer promising prospects for identifying disturbances in cardiorespiratory control system (CRCS) among COVID-19 patients by assessing the oxygen saturation variability (OSV) signals. In this investigation, we employ scale-based entropy (SBE) methods, including multiscale entropy (MSE), multiscale permutation entropy (MPE), and multiscale fuzzy entropy (MFE), to characterize the dynamical characteristics of OSV signals. These measurements serve as features for the application of traditional machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) approaches in the context of classifying OSV signals from COVID-19 patients during their illness and subsequent recovery. We use the Beurer PO-80 pulse oximeter which non-invasively acquired OSV and pulse rate data from COVID-19 infected patients during the active infection phase and after a two-month recovery period. The dataset comprises of 88 recordings collected from 44 subjects(26 men and 18 women), both during their COVID-19 illness and two months post-recovery. Prior to analysis, data preprocessing is performed to remove artifacts and outliers. The application of SBE measures to OSV signals unveils a reduction in signal complexity during the course of COVID-19. Leveraging these SBE measures as feature sets, we employ two DL techniques, namely the radial basis function network (RBFN) and RBFN with dynamic delay algorithm (RBFNDDA), for the classification of OSV data collected during and after COVID-19 recovery. To evaluate the classification performance, we employ standard metrics such as sensitivity, specificity, false positive rate (FPR), and the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve (AUC). Among the three scale-based entropy measures, MFE outperformed MSE and MPE by achieving the highest classification performance using RBFN with 13 best features having sensitivity (0.84), FPR (0.30), specificity (0.70) and AUC (0.77). The outcomes of our study demonstrate that SBE measures combined with DL methods offer a valuable approach for categorizing OSV signals obtained during and after COVID-19, ultimately aiding in the detection of CRCS dysfunction.

The Risk of Optic Neuritis following mRNA Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination Compared to Coronavirus Disease 2019 Infection and Other Vaccinations

Purposeto determine the risk of optic neuritis (ON) after mRNA COVID-19 vaccine administration. DesignU.S. National aggregate database retrospective cohort study SubjectsPatients were placed into cohorts based on mRNA COVID-19 vaccination status (no vaccine and positive history of COVID-19 infection, one vaccine, or two vaccines received) from December 2020-June 2022. Two control cohorts were created with patients vaccinated against influenza or tetanus diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) from June 2018-December 2019. Patients with any history of ON or significant risk factors for ON development including infectious, inflammatory, and neoplastic diseases were excluded. MethodsA large de-identified database was queried for the Common Procedural Technology (CPT) codes for immunization encounters specific to first dose and second dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, influenza, or Tdap. Cohorts were 1:1 propensity score matched on age, sex, race, and ethnicity. The risk of ON development following vaccination was calculated and compared for all five cohorts with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) reported. Main outcome measuresrisk ratio (RR) of optic neuritis 21 days after vaccination (or COVID-19 infection) and incidence of ON per 100,000 individuals. ResultsAfter matching, the first dose COVID-19 and influenza vaccine cohorts (n=1,678,598, mean age [standard deviation] at vaccination of 45.5[23.3] and 43.2[25.5], 55% female) had a 0.44 risk reduction of developing ON (95% CI 0.28-0.80). The first dose COVID-19 and Tdap (n=797,538, mean age 38.9[20.0], 54.2% female) cohort had 10 and 16 patients develop ON (RR 0.63, 0.28-1.38). Comparison of COVID-19 vaccinated patients (n=3,698,848, 48.2[21.5] years, 54.7% female) to unvaccinated and COVID-19 infected patients (n=3,698,848, 49.6[22.0] years, 55.2% female) showed 49 and 506 patients developing ON respectively (RR 0.10, 0.07-0.13). The incidence per 100,000 for ON was 1 in the first dose COVID-19 vaccine cohort, 2 in the influenza and Tdap cohorts, and 14 in the COVID-19 infected and unvaccinated cohort. ConclusionRisk of ON following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination is rare and is comparable to Tdap vaccination, decreased compared to influenza vaccination, and decreased compared to COVID-19 infection in the absence of vaccination.

The effect of COVID-19 infection on patients with rheumatic diseases in China.

At the end of 2022, the COVID-19 outbreak erupted in China, and BA.5.2 or BF.7 subtypes of Omicron novel variations were implicated in more than 90% of the cases. We created a real-world questionnaire survey to better understand how this new variant pandemic was affecting rheumatic patients in China. During the COVID-19 outbreak in China, the subjects of this study were rheumatic patients and non-rheumatic individuals (control group), who were matched for sex and age. Professional physicians carefully questioned the participants before administering a questionnaire as part of the study. This study focused on the general baseline characteristics, clinical symptoms and treatment after COVID-19 infection, and the target populations' awareness of COVID-19. The study included 1130 participants, of whom 572 were assigned to the rheumatic group and 558 to the control group. The percentage of vaccinated controls was significantly higher than that of rheumatic patients (90.1% vs. 62.8%, p < 0.001), while the rate of COVID-19 infection was not significantly different between the two groups (82.3% vs. 86.6%, p = 0.051). Patients with rheumatic disease experienced substantially more days of fever following infection (2.87 ± 3.42 vs. 2.18 ± 1.65, p = 0.002) compared to individuals in the control group. The rheumatic patients had a greater prevalence of cough (67.1% vs. 54.0%, p < 0.001), somnipathy (13.8% vs. 6.0%, p < 0.001), and conjunctivitis/ophthalmodynia (5.3% vs. 2.1%, p = 0.008), while dry throat/throat pain/weakness (49.9% vs. 59.4%, p = 0.003), myalgia/osteodynia (33.3% vs. 41.8%, p = 0.003), and dyspnea (14.0% vs. 25.3%, p < 0.001) were more likely to occur in non-rheumatic group after infection. Human immunoglobulin (2.1% vs. 0.2%, p = 0.006), glucocorticoids (19.5% vs. 1.6%, p < 0.001), oxygen support (6.8% vs. 2.1%, p < 0.001), and traditional Chinese medicine (21.9% vs. 16.6%, p = 0.037) were all more frequently used by rheumatic patients with COVID-19 infection. People in the control group were more confused about whether to use masks in following social activities after contracting COVID-19 (14.7% vs. 7.6%, p = 0.001). In the control group, more individuals than patients with rheumatic disease (25.1% vs. 13.4%, p < 0.001) expressed an interest to receive the vaccine again. After being exposed to COVID-19, the majority of rheumatic patients (66.9%) reported no discernible change, only 29.1% reported a worsening of their symptoms, and the remaining 4% indicated an improvement. After the COVID-19 outbreak in China, the proportion of patients with rheumatic diseases infected with the virus was similar to that of normal individuals. But the clinical symptoms, follow-up treatment requirements, and awareness of the COVID-19 among rheumatic patients were distinct from those among non-rheumatic patients, necessitating the use of individualized diagnosis and treatment plans as well as health advice by medical professionals in clinical work. Key Points • Despite there were different comorbidities and vaccination rates, the rate of COVID-19 infection in patients with rheumatic disease was similar to that of normal individuals. • After COVID-19 infection, rheumatic patients and normal controls had different clinical symptoms and drug usage. • After being exposed to COVID-19, the majority of rheumatic patients felt no significant change in the primary disease, while the normal controls was more likely to accept a new vaccine injection and confused about whether to use masks in following social activities.

P899 Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients Show More Recognizable Digestive Symptoms of COVID-19: A Questionnaire Study

Abstract Background It's important to manage IBD patients in the era of coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). However, there is few studies on the clinical symptoms and prognosis of COVID-19 in IBD patients. Methods A web-based survey concerning symptoms of COVID-19 in people with or without IBD was designed. A pilot-test was carried out to ensure the feasibility of the questionnaire. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to compensate for differences in baseline characteristics. Wilcoxon rank-sum test and Chi-square test were used to compare the clinical and prognosis differences between two groups. Results A total of 1274 individuals (including 631 with IBD) completed the questionnaire. After the use of PSM, 786 cases including 393 of IBD and non-IBD individuals respectively were included in the analysis. Fever and nasal congestion were the most common clinical manifestations of COVID-19 in our study. As for gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, more IBD patients presented with new-onset abdominal pain (26.7% vs. 12.7%, p&amp;lt;0.001), diarrhea (22.4% vs. 14.5%, p&amp;lt;0.005) and altered bowel habits (38.7% vs. 24.9%, p&amp;lt;0.001). Conclusion COVID-19-related GI symptoms are more common in IBD patients. It is important to rule out COVID-19 infection in patients experiencing recurrence or exacerbation of GI symptoms.

The cases of tracing the source of patients infected with Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 based on wastewater-based epidemiology in Shenzhen

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is an emerging discipline, which has been applied to drug abuse tracking and infectious disease pathogen surveillance. During the COVID-19 epidemic, WBE has been applied to monitor the epidemic trend and SARS-CoV-2 variants etc. In order to detect hidden COVID-19 cases and prevent transmission in the community, wastewater surveillance system for monitoring SARS-CoV-2 RNA was developed in Shenzhen. The sewage sampling sites were set up in key places such as the port areas, urban villages and residential communities of Futian, Nanshan, Luohu and Yantian districts. From July 26 to November 30, 2022, a total of 369 sewage sampling sites were set up, covering 1.93 million people. Continuous sampling was carried out for 3 hours in the peak period of water use every day. Sewage virus enrichment and SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid detection were carried out by polyethylene glycol precipitation method and RT-qPCR, and a positive water sample disposal process was molded. This article aims to introduce the case of source tracing of COVID-19 infected patients based on urban sewage in Shenzhen. The sewage monitoring of Honghu water treatment plant in Luohu District played an early warning role, and the source of infection was traced. In the disposal of positive water samples in Futian South Road, Futian District, the important experience of monitoring point layout was obtained. In the sewage monitoring of Nanshan village, Nanshan District, the existence of occult infection was revealed. Sharing the experience of tracing the source of COVID-19 patients to avoid the spread of COVID-19 in the community based on wastewater surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Shenzhen, and summarizing the advantages and application prospects of sewage surveillance can provide new ideas for monitoring emerging or re-emerging pathogens that are known to exhibit gastrointestinal excretion in the future.

Change in absolute neutrophil count after COVID-19 infection in patients using clozapine versus other antipsychotics.

It was reported that patients who contracted COVID-19 while taking clozapine exhibited a distinct hematological response. However, the absence of control groups made it difficult to attribute it to clozapine. The changes in absolute neutrophil counts (ANCs) during the 4 weeks after COVID-19 infection were compared between the two groups of patients with severe mental illnesses (SMIs) (49 patients using clozapine and 54 using other antipsychotics) using generalized additive modeling. Although the pattern of a transient drop in ANC followed by gradual recovery could be demonstrated in both groups, it was more pronounced in the clozapine group ( P = 0.00025). Nevertheless, overall ANC remained at a higher level in the clozapine group. The results suggested potential interaction between clozapine and COVID-19 at the level of hematological dynamics. However, it did not necessarily indicate that such interaction is inevitably harmful or dangerous. It was more of a concern that some patients using other antipsychotics exhibited decreased ANC, which did not easily recover. Traditionally, clinicians have been concerned about the worsening of hematological side effects in clozapine patients after COVID-19 infection. However, the obtained result highlighted the necessity of hematological monitoring in patients using any type of antipsychotics for SMIs.

Comparison of Mean Serum Ferritin Levels between Non-severe and Severe COVID-19 Infection Groups During Third Trimester of Pregnancy

Background: Despite the fact that, ferritin is commonly regarded as a representation of total body iron reserves; its predictive value is also connected to COVID-19 severity. COVID-19 disease can manifest itself in pregnant women in a variety of ways. Comorbid conditions have a significant impact on the progression of COVID-19 severity. Several studies have showed that, serum ferritin level was associated with severity of COVID-19 infection. So, we conducted this study to evaluate the comparison of mean serum ferritin levels between non-severe and severe COVID-19 infection groups during third trimester of pregnancy. Objectives: The aim of this study is to compare the mean serum ferritin levels between non-severe and severe COVID-19 infection groups in third trimester of pregnancy. Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, COVID-19 Unit, BSMMU and DMCH. Sampling method was purposive. Total 154 cases were included in this study after matching eligibility criteria. After collecting intravenous blood, serum ferritin level was measured. Results: Among 154 cases, 24.7% cases were asymptomatic, 40.3% cases were mild, 24.7% cases were moderate and 10.4% cases were severe COVID-19 infection during third trimester of pregnancy. The non-severe COVID-19 infection group consisted of 100 cases of asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 infected patients, with a mean serum ferritin level of 51.48 ng/ml. The severe COVID-19 infection group consisted of 54 cases of moderate and severe COVID-19 infected patients, with a mean serum ferritin level of 478.37 ng/ml. The independent samples t-test revealed a p-value of ≤0.05 (0.0000000002), when comparing the mean values of these two groups. Conclusion: Serum ferritin level rises significantly in severe COVID-19 infection during third trimester of pregnancy.