International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Mar 2021
Effects of COVID-19 on mortality: A 5-year population-based study in Oman.
Mortality surveillance provides a crucial method for monitoring disease activity. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) can cause excess mortality both directly and indirectly by increasing deaths from other diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of COVID-19 on mortality in Oman. ⋯ The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a 15% increase in all-cause mortality in Oman, mainly as a result of deaths from COVID-19. However, unclassified deaths, deaths due to respiratory diseases and deaths due to infectious diseases have also increased, enforcing the need for a holistic approach and appropriate coordination of health services during such health crises.
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Mar 2021
Reprocessing of N95 masks: Experience from a resource-limited setting in India.
Due to the surge in demand for N95 masks during the Covid-19 pandemic, and considering the situation in countries grappling with acute shortages of N95 masks, this study investigated the possibilities of decontamination and reuse of masks. ⋯ Plasma sterilization is recommended for decontamination of N95 masks in low-resource settings. ETO is not recommended due to hazards associated with handling of ethylene oxide, although the filtering efficiency was retained. Since the UV irradiation method showed variations in results, evaluation of UV decontamination for N95 masks needs to be performed on a case-by-case basis.
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Mar 2021
Case ReportsPersistent replication of SARS-CoV-2 in a severely immunocompromised patient treated with several courses of remdesivir.
Microbiological response of SARS-CoV-2 to remdesivir in immunocompromised patients has not been evaluated. We present the case of a severely immunocompromised patient with persistent replication of SARS-CoV-2, who required different courses of remdesivir. Short courses of remdesivir might be insufficient in immunocompromised patients due to prolonged viral clearance.
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Mar 2021
Viral arthralgia a new manifestation of COVID-19 infection? A cohort study of COVID-19-associated musculoskeletal symptoms.
Musculoskeletal symptoms are often unrecognised as a prominent feature of COVID-19 infection. This study hypothesised that viral arthralgia is an uncommon but distinct manifestation of COVID-19 infection. In addition, it aimed to characterise the other musculoskeletal presentations of COVID-19 infection and study their prognostic implications. ⋯ Viral arthralgia is a novel clinical manifestation of COVID-19, and untypical of a viral prodrome or a reactive arthropathy. While musculoskeletal symptoms were not associated with developing a pneumonia, to avoid missing a diagnosis of COVID-19, clinicians should be aware of its variable onset, particularly when respiratory symptoms are absent at the time of presentation.
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Int. J. Infect. Dis. · Mar 2021
Measuring the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak in Ecuador using preliminary estimates of excess mortality, March 17-October 22, 2020.
Ecuador is among the worst-hit countries in the world by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. In terms of confirmed deaths per million inhabitants, as of October 22, Ecuador ranks fourth in the Americas and ninth worldwide according to data from the World Health Organization. In this report, we estimate excess deaths due to any cause in Ecuador since the start of the lockdown measures on March 17, 2020 until October 22, 2020. ⋯ Our results suggest that the real impact of the pandemic in Ecuador was much worse than that indicated by reports from national institutions. Estimates of excess mortality might provide a better approximation of the true COVID-19 death toll. These estimates might capture not only deaths directly attributable to the COVID-19 pandemic but also deaths from other diseases that resulted from indirect effects of the pandemic.