Indian journal of medical microbiology
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Although children with novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) typically present with fever and respiratory symptoms, some children have reported gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms including vomiting and diarrhoea during the course of the disease. The continuous positive detection of the viral RNA from faeces in children even after nasopharyngeal swabs turned negative suggests that the GI tract may shed virus and a tentative faecal-oral transmission. ⋯ COVID-19 has implications for the management of children with chronic luminal diseases. There is increasing concern regarding the risk that children with inflammatory bowel disease being infected with SARS-CoV-2.
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Indian J Med Microbiol · Jul 2020
Review Meta AnalysisEffect of chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine on COVID-19 virological outcomes: An updated meta-analysis.
As anti-malarial drugs have been found to inhibit Corona viruses in vitro, studies have evaluated the effect of these drugs inCOVID-19 infection. We conducted an updated meta-analysis of clinical trials and observational studies published till June 2020. Patients with reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) infection were included. ⋯ To conclude, CQ/HCQ does not affect the time to virological cure compared to usual/standard of care in COVID-19 infection. Recurrent infection in a smaller number of patients was noted in the CQ/HCQ group. As the evidence generated was of "very low-quality/certainty)", large good quality studies are needed to confirm the present findings.
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Indian J Med Microbiol · Jul 2020
Analysis of multi-sample pools in the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA for mass screening: An Indian perspective.
In the current COVID-19 crisis, many national healthcare systems are confronted with a huge demand for mass testing and an acute shortage of diagnostic resources. Considering group testing as a viable solution, this pilot study was carried out to find the maximum number of samples that can be pooled together to accurately detect one positive sample carrying the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 viral RNA from different pools. We made different pool sizes ranging from 5 to 30 samples. ⋯ The pools underwent real-time qualitative PCR for the determination of effective maximum pool size. It was observed that up to 20-sample pools of all positive samples could accurately be detected in terms of both E gene and RdRp gene, leading to considerable conservation of resources, time and workforce. However, while deciding the optimal pool size, the infection level in that particular geographical area and sensitivity of the test assay used (limit of detection) have to be taken into account.
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Indian J Med Microbiol · Jul 2020
Prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies in healthcare workers at the peak of the pandemic in Mumbai, India: A preliminary study.
Healthcare worker (HCW) infections due to COVID-19 are of serious consequence. Testing for antibodies against COVID-19 in HCWs has been previously recommended. ⋯ The prevalence of infection in asymptomatic HCWs was 4.3% and in previously symptomatic untested HCWs was 70%. We recommend that HCWs with a previous history of COVID symptoms who were not tested/tested negative by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction should be tested for antibodies at least 2 weeks after onset of symptoms.
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Indian J Med Microbiol · Apr 2020
Observational StudyEpidemiology and risk factors associated with NTM pulmonary and extrapulmonary infections in a high tuberculosis endemic Region.
Non-tuberculous mycobacteria, although identified as pathogenic to humans long time ago, are emerging as the new threat in the past two decades. Even in tuberculosis endemic country such as India, they are being isolated from the clinical specimens more often than previously. This change in trend is of concern, because they are often misdiagnosed as Mycobacterium tuberculosis or even as drug-resistant tuberculosis. ⋯ NTM plays a significant role in causing pulmonary and extrapulmonary infections even in our part of the country with high endemicity of tuberculosis. NTM has emerged as important pathogens even in the immunocompetent patients. There is a need for rapid diagnosis and susceptibility testing of NTM to aid physicians administer timely and appropriate treatment to the patients.