The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene
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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. · Sep 2020
Review Case ReportsCase Report: COVID-19-Associated Bilateral Spontaneous Pneumothorax-A Literature Review.
COVID-19 is a pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, primarily affecting the respiratory tract. Pulmonary complications of COVID-19 may include acute respiratory distress syndrome and pulmonary embolism. Pneumothorax has been recently reported in association with COVID-19. We report a case of COVID-19 pneumonia with bilateral spontaneous pneumothorax with no known underlying lung disease or risk factors.
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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. · Sep 2020
Biannual Treatment of Preschool Children with Single Dose Azithromycin to Reduce Mortality: Impact on Azithromycin Resistance in the MORDOR Trial in Tanzania.
The Macrolides Oraux pour Réduire les Décès avec un Oeil sur la Résistance study showed that administration of biannual, single-dose azithromycin to preschool children reduces mortality. We sought to evaluate its impact on azithromycin resistance. Thirty randomly selected communities in Kilosa district, Tanzania, were randomized to receive 6-monthly single-dose azithromycin (∼20 mg/kg) versus placebo treatment of children aged 1-59 months. ⋯ The proportions of azithromycin-resistant E. coli isolates at baseline, 12 months, and 24 months in the azithromycin (versus placebo) arms were 14.9% (18.9%; P = 0.16), 21.5% (16.6%; P = 0.10), and 14.9% (14.7%; P = 0.95), respectively. Over the 24 months, the mean treatment coverage for the azithromycin and placebo was 76.9% and 74.8%, respectively (P = 0.49). Biannual administration of single-dose azithromycin to children did not appear to result in excess azithromycin resistance in S. pneumoniae and E. coli isolates over 24 months of follow-up.
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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. · Sep 2020
Attitudes, Anxiety, and Behavioral Practices Regarding COVID-19 among University Students in Jordan: A Cross-Sectional Study.
The COVID-19 pandemic represents a major public health, economic, political, and scientific concern in most countries around the globe where COVID-19 cases and deaths have been confirmed. This study assessed the attitudes, anxiety, and behavioral practices of university students in Jordan regarding COVID-19 during the early period of the infection (March 19-21, 2020) using a validated, self-administered survey questionnaire. Positive attitudes or low-risk practices were given 1 point, whereas negative attitudes or high-risk practices were scored 0. ⋯ Female, older, medical, or postgraduate students practiced significantly more (P ≤ 0.05) appropriate hygiene and social distancing behaviors toward COVID-19 than their counterparts of each group. More than two-thirds (69.2%) of the students were anxious that they might become infected with COVID-19. These results are important for health authorities to develop appropriate educational programs and protective health measures including good respiratory etiquette and handwashing practices, to enhance safer lifestyles and prevent COVID-19 transmission.
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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. · Sep 2020
Review Case ReportsCase Report: COVID-19-Related Pneumothorax-Case Series Highlighting a Significant Complication.
COVID-19 is a recent outbreak in China and rapidly spread worldwide. Lung consolidation is the most common radiologic finding of COVID-19 pneumonia. ⋯ We here report three cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection complicated by pneumothorax. In addition, we present a brief literature review.
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Am. J. Trop. Med. Hyg. · Sep 2020
Temporal Change of SARS-CoV-2 in Clinical Specimens of COVID-19 Pneumonia Patients.
The quality and type of specimen collection affect the sensitivity of real-time reverse transcriptase-PCR (rRT-PCR) for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2. In this report, the course over time of rRT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 in 26 clinical specimens collected from the upper (nasopharyngeal and throat swabs) and lower (sputum) respiratory tracts of COVID-19 cases with pneumonia was investigated along with the clinical course. The preliminary results revealed that higher SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentration and longer time for detection make self-collected sputum a preferable specimen for the diagnosis and follow-up of COVID-19 pneumonia. Self-collection of sputum can minimize the risk of unnecessary exposure to healthcare workers, preserve the shortage of personal protective equipment, and limit viral transmission to the environment.