Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases & Medical Microbiology最新文献

Introduction: Although COVID-19 is not currently a public health emergency, it will affect susceptible individuals in the post-COVID-19 era. Hence, the present study aimed to develop a model for Iranian patients to identify at-risk groups based on past medical history (PMHx) and some other factors affecting the death of patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Methods: A secondary study was conducted with the existing data of hospitalized COVID-19 adult patients in the hospitals covered by Iran University of Medical Sciences. PMHx was extracted from the registered ICD-10 codes. Stepwise logistic regression was used to predict mortality by PMHx and background covariates such as intensive care unit (ICU) admission. Crude population attributable fraction (PAF) as well as crude and adjusted odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were reported.

Results: A total of 8879 patients were selected with 19.68% mortality. Infectious and parasitic diseases' history showed the greatest association (OR = 5.72, 95% CI: 4.20, 7.82), while the greatest PAF was for cardiovascular system diseases (20.46%). According to logistic regression modeling, the largest effect, other than ICU admission and age, was for history of infectious and parasitic diseases (OR = 3.089, 95% CI: 2.13, 4.47). A good performance was achieved (area under curve = 0.875).

Conclusion: Considering the prevalence of underlying diseases, many mortality cases of COVID-19 are attributable to the history of cardiovascular disease. Future studies are needed for policy making regarding reduction of COVID-19 mortality in susceptible groups in the post-COVID-19 era.

This study aims to explore the interaction of glycemic control and statin use on the treatment outcomes of pulmonary tuberculosis-diabetes comorbidity (PTB-DM) patients. A nested case-control study was conducted in a tuberculosis patients' cohort. We defined cases as patients who experienced unfavorable outcomes. Glycemic control was estimated at the baseline. Statin use was obtained from medical records. The multivariate logistic regression models were developed, and the interaction table invented by Andersson was adopted to analyze the interaction of glycemic control and statin use on treatment outcomes. A total of 2,047 patients were included in this study. There was a significant interaction between glycemic control and statin use on the treatment outcomes. Patients with good glycemic control and no statin use (OR = 0.464, 95% CI: 0.360-0.623) had a lower risk of unfavorable outcomes than those with poor glycemic control and statin use (OR = 0.604, 95% CI: 0.401-0.734). Patients with good glycemic control and statin use had the lowest risk of unfavorable outcomes (OR = 0.394, 95% CI: 0.264-0.521). Glycemic control in diabetes-tuberculosis treatment should be paid considerable attention. Patients can benefit from statin use even if they have poor glycemic control. Patients with good glycemic control and statin use can have the best outcomes.

SARS-CoV-2 is a virus that affects the human immune system. It was observed to be on the rise since the beginning of 2020 and turned into a life-threatening pandemic. Scientists have tried to develop a possible preventive and therapeutic drug against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other related coronaviruses by assessing COVID-19-recovered persons' immunity. This study aims to review immunization against SARS-CoV-2, along with exploring the interventions that have been developed for the prevention of SARS-CoV-2. This study also highlighted the role of phototherapy in treating SARS-CoV infection. The study adopted a review approach to gathering the information available and the progress that has been made in the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. Various vaccinations, including nucleotide, subunit, and vector-based vaccines, as well as attenuated and inactivated forms that have already been shown to have prophylactic efficacy against the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and SARS-CoV, have been summarized. Neutralizing and non-neutralizing antibodies are all associated with viral infections. Because there is no specific antiviral vaccine or therapies for coronaviruses, the main treatment strategy is supportive care, which is reinforced by combining broad-spectrum antivirals, convalescent plasma, and corticosteroids. COVID-19 has been a challenge to keep reconsidering the usual approaches to regulatory evaluation as a result of getting mixed and complicated findings on the vaccines, as well as licensing procedures. However, it is observed that medicinal herbs also play an important role in treating infection of the upper respiratory tract, the principal symptom of SARS-CoV due to their natural bioactive composite. However, some Traditional Chinese Medicines contain mutagens and nephrotoxins and the toxicological properties of the majority of Chinese herbal remedies are unknown. Therefore, to treat the COVID-19 infection along with conventional treatment, it is recommended that herb-drug interaction be examined thoroughly.

Background: In Sudan, patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) presented lately in advanced stages. Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common complications of surgical treatment of OSCC which significantly affects the clinical outcomes. The present study aimed to assess the frequency and risk factors of postoperative surgical site infection among OSCC patients underwent surgery at Khartoum Teaching Dental Hospital (KTDH).

Methods: This is a prospective, analytical, hospital-based study conducted at KTDH during the period from 2022 to 2023. Patients with OSCC were surgically treated and assessed carefully for the development of the SSI.

Results: Sixty patients were enrolled in the present study. Twenty-nine (48.3%) patients were above 61 years, with the predominance of males with 42 (70%) patients. The most involved site of OSCC was the lower gingivolabial region in 35 (39.3%) patients. Forty-seven (78%) patients were in advanced stages III and IV. Forty-five (80%) patients had modified radical neck dissection. Blood transfusion was administered in 50 (83.3%) patients. Twenty-six (43.4%) patients developed SSI; 15 (57.7%) patients of them were Toombak dippers. Development of SSI was found to be significantly associated with the tumour site (P value 0.9), clinical stage (P value 0.6), the number of transfused blood units (P value 0.04), and the duration of hospital stay (P value 0.04). In contrast, use of sutures for wound closure was associated with a reduced risk of developing SSI (P value 0.005).

Conclusion: Surgical site infection was found in 43.4% of the OSCC patients. It was associated with advanced clinical stage and tumour site. Minimizing the number of blood units transfused intraoperatively, we decrease the duration of hospital stay and the use of sutures for wound closure decreases the risk of SSI significantly.

To evaluate the prevalence and quality of antimicrobial prescriptions using a Global Point Prevalence Survey (PPS) tool and help identify targets for improvement of antimicrobial prescribing and inform the development of antimicrobial stewardship activities. Antimicrobial prescriptions for inpatients staying at a hospital overnight were surveyed on one weekday in October 2018, November 2019, and November 2020. Data including basic patient information, antimicrobial drugs, quality evaluation of antimicrobial drug prescription, and the risk factors of nosocomial infection were collected from doctor network workstation. Patient information was anonymized and entered in the PPS Web application by physicians. A total of 720 patients (median age, 62 years) were surveyed. Of them, 246 (34.2%) were prescribed antimicrobials on the survey days. Hospital-wide antimicrobial use had a significantly decreasing trend (P < 0.001). The most commonly prescribed antimicrobial drugs were third-generation cephalosporins (40.5%), followed by quinolones (21.8%) and second-generation cephalosporin (12.5%). In our study, cefoperazone/sulbactam, ceftazidime, and levofloxacin were the most commonly used antimicrobials. The most common indication for antimicrobial use was pneumonia or lower respiratory tract infection (159/321, 49.5%). Antimicrobial for surgical prophylaxis represented 16.2% of the total antibiotic doses. Of those, 67.3% were administered for more than 24 h. The rate of adherence to antibiotic guidelines was 61.4%. The indications for antimicrobials were not documented in 54.5% of the prescriptions. Stop/review date was documented for 36.8% of prescriptions. The PPS tool is useful in identifying targets to enhance the quality of antimicrobial prescriptions to improve the adherence rate in hospitals. This survey can be used as a control to assess the rational application quality of antimicrobial after regular application of antimicrobial intervention.

The consumption of ready-to-eat (RTE) foods contaminated with coagulase-positive staphylococci (CoPS) and especially Staphylococcus aureus puts consumers at a potential risk of food-borne disease or colonization and subsequent infection. This cross-sectional study determined the levels of CoPS and the presence of S. aureus in RTE foods sold in Buea municipality. A total of 420 RTE food samples, comprising 70 each of cake, bread, fruit salad, meat hot-pot, suya, and boiled rice were randomly purchased from February to August 2020. The CoPS counts were determined by culturing on Baird-Parker agar, and S. aureus was identified by amplification of the nuc gene using the polymerase chain reaction. All S. aureus isolates were screened for the presence of classical staphylococcal enterotoxin genes. To determine antimicrobial resistance profiles, each isolate was tested against 11 antimicrobials. Oxacillin-resistant S. aureus strains were analyzed for the presence of the mecA gene. Overall, 161 (38.3%) samples had detectable levels of CoPS ranging from 2.0 to 5.81 log₁₀ CFU/g. Based on CoPS levels, 37 (8.81%) of the 420 RTE food samples-only fruit salad and meat hot-pot, had unsatisfactory microbiological quality. A total of 72 S. aureus isolates, comprising 52.78% from fruit salad, 16.67% from meat hot-pot, 12.5% from boiled rice, 9.72% from suya, 5.56% from bread, and 4.17% from cake, were recovered. None of the S. aureus isolates possessed any of the classical enterotoxin genes. All the isolates were susceptible to vancomycin and ofloxacin, while 68 (94.44%) and 66 (91.67%) were susceptible to oxacillin and ciprofloxacin, respectively. Resistance to penicillin (93.06%) was highest, followed by amoxicillin (91.67%) and erythromycin (79.17%). Four isolates were identified as methicillin-resistant S. aureus, all of which carried the mecA gene. A total of 24 antibiotypes were identified. Our findings showed that RTE foods sold in the Buea municipality are likely vehicles for the transmission of CoPS and antimicrobial-resistant S. aureus.

Malaria, a highly perilous infectious disease, impacted approximately 230 million individuals globally in 2019. Mosquitoes, vectors of over 10% of worldwide diseases, pose a significant public health menace. The pressing need for novel antimalarial drugs arises due to the imminent threat faced by nearly 40% of the global population and the escalating resistance of parasites to current treatments. This study comprehensively addresses prevalent parasitic and viral illnesses transmitted by mosquitoes, leading to the annual symptomatic infections of 400 million individuals, placing 100 million at constant risk of contracting these diseases. Extensive investigations underscore the pivotal role of traditional plants as rich sources for pioneering pharmaceuticals. The latter half of this century witnessed the ascent of bioactive compounds within traditional medicine, laying the foundation for modern therapeutic breakthroughs. Herbal medicine, notably influential in underdeveloped or developing nations, remains an essential healthcare resource. Traditional Indian medical systems such as Ayurveda, Siddha, and Unani, with a history of successful outcomes, highlight the potential of these methodologies. Current scrutiny of Indian medicinal herbs reveals their promise as cutting-edge drug reservoirs. The propensity of plant-derived compounds to interact with biological receptors positions them as prime candidates for drug development. Yet, a comprehensive perspective is crucial. While this study underscores the promise of plant-based compounds as therapeutic agents against malaria and dengue fever, acknowledging the intricate complexities of drug development and the challenges therein are imperative. The journey from traditional remedies to contemporary medical applications is multifaceted and warrants prudent consideration. This research aspires to offer invaluable insights into the management of malaria and dengue fever. By unveiling plant-based compounds with potential antimalarial and antiviral properties, this study aims to contribute to disease control. In pursuit of this goal, a thorough understanding of the mechanistic foundations of traditional antimalarial and antidengue plants opens doors to novel therapeutic avenues.