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Alwan N, Safwan J, Kerek R, Ghach W. Hand hygiene during the spread of COVID-19: a cross-sectional study of awareness and practices among academic institutions in Lebanon. Front Public Health 2024; 11:1256433. [PMID: 38249408 PMCID: PMC10796464 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1256433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction During the pandemic, the World Health Organization has recommended hand hygiene as one of the effective preventive measures to limit the global spread of COVID-19. However, the awareness gap of hand hygiene protocols could increase the spread of COVID-19 and consequently increase the absenteeism rate among academic institutions. This study aims to assess hand hygiene awareness and practices levels among various university communities in Lebanon. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted between December 2021 and June 2022 among 1,291 participants from academic settings in Lebanese universities. An online survey (score-based questionnaire) of hand hygiene was conducted to evaluate the awareness and practices among university communities (faculty, staff, and students). Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used to determine whether significant differences exist in the levels of awareness with regard to gender, age, provinces, educational level, and university status. Pearson's chi-squared test was applied to assess differences among the sample characteristics and participants' practice of hand hygiene. Results It was found that most of the participants showed a moderate level of awareness (76.4%) with a mean score of 7.59 out of 12 (SD = 1.68). The Mann-Whitney test indicated that females recorded higher levels of awareness than males with a significant difference of 102, 104: p < 0.05. Another notable variable was the educational level of the participants with university degrees holders recording higher scores of awareness than the ones with high school degrees as per the Kruskal-Wallis test (p < 0.05). Significant differences were also shown in awareness scores among the age groups and the university status (p < 0.05). The Pearson's chi-squared test results showed that females used alcohol-based hand rubs or soap and water more frequently than males (p < 0.05). However, males significantly preferred the frequent use of water alone compared to females (p < 0.05). Conclusion The study findings highlighted the necessity of awareness campaigns and health educational programs addressing the technical skills of hand hygiene among both genders (especially males) of the academic communities in Lebanon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nisreen Alwan
- College of Health Sciences, Abu Dhabi University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jihan Safwan
- School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Beirut, Lebanon
- Institut National de Santé Publique, d’Épidémiologie Clinique et de Toxicologie-Liban (INSPECT-LB), Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Racha Kerek
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Lebanese University, Tripoli, Lebanon
- Department of Natural Sciences, Lebanese American University, Byblos, Lebanon
| | - Wissam Ghach
- Department of Public Health, Canadian University Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
- School of Health Sciences, Modern University for Business and Science, Beirut, Lebanon
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Tebha SS, Tameezuddin A, Bajpai S, Zaidi AK. SARS-CoV-2-Virus structure and life cycle. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2024; 202:1-23. [PMID: 38237982 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2023.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
This book chapter presents a concise overview of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. It explores viral classification based on morphology and nucleic acid composition with a focus on DNA and RNA viruses, the SARS-CoV-2 structure including the structural as well as nonstructural proteins in detail, and the viral replication mechanisms. The chapter then delves into the characteristics and diversity of coronaviruses, particularly SARS-CoV-2, highlighting its similarities with other beta-coronaviruses. The replication and transcription complex, RNA elongation, and capping, as well as the role of accessory proteins in viral replication and modulation of the host immune response is discussed extensively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameer Saleem Tebha
- Jinnah Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan; Department of Research, Larkins Community Hospital, South Miami, Florida, USA
| | | | - Sanchit Bajpai
- Consultant ENT & Head and Neck Surgeon at TSM Medical College and Multispeciality Hospital, Lucknow, India
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Khan MU, Mushtaq K, Alsoub DH, Iqbal P, Ata F, Chaudhry HS, Iqbal F, Balaraju G, Maslamani MAA, Varughese B, Singh R, Ejji KA, Kaabi SA, Kamel YM, Butt AA. Digestive system involvement and clinical outcomes among COVID-19 patients: A retrospective cohort study from Qatar. World J Gastroenterol 2021; 27:7995-8009. [PMID: 35046626 PMCID: PMC8678823 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v27.i46.7995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus most commonly presents with respiratory symptoms. While gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations either at presentation or during hospitalization are also common, their impact on clinical outcomes is controversial. Some studies have described worse outcomes in COVID-19 patients with GI symptoms, while others have shown either no association or a protective effect. There is a need for consistent standards to describe GI symptoms in COVID-19 patients and to assess their effect on clinical outcomes, including mortality and disease severity.
AIM To investigate the prevalence of GI symptoms in hospitalized COVID-19 patients and their correlation with disease severity and clinical outcomes.
METHODS We retrospectively reviewed 601 consecutive adult COVID-19 patients requiring hospitalization between May 1-15, 2020. GI symptoms were recorded at admission and during hospitalization. Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment data were retrieved. Clinical outcomes included all-cause mortality, disease severity at presentation, need for intensive care unit (ICU) admission, development of acute respiratory distress syndrome, and need for mechanical ventilation. Multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify independent predictors of the adverse outcomes.
RESULTS The prevalence of any GI symptom at admission was 27.1% and during hospitalization was 19.8%. The most common symptoms were nausea (98 patients), diarrhea (76 patients), vomiting (73 patients), and epigastric pain or discomfort (69 patients). There was no difference in the mortality between the two groups (6.21% vs 5.5%, P = 0.7). Patients with GI symptoms were more likely to have severe disease at presentation (33.13% vs 22.5%, P < 0.001) and prolonged hospital stay (15 d vs 14 d, P = 0.04). There was no difference in other clinical outcomes, including ICU admission, development of acute respiratory distress syndrome, or need for mechanical ventilation. Drugs associated with the development of GI symptoms during hospitalization were ribavirin (diarrhea 26.37% P < 0.001, anorexia 17.58%, P = 0.02), hydroxychloroquine (vomiting 28.52%, P = 0.009) and lopinavir/ritonavir (nausea 32.65% P = 0.049, vomiting 31.47% P = 0.004, and epigastric pain 12.65% P = 0.048). In the multivariate regression analysis, age > 65 years was associated with increased mortality risk [odds ratio (OR) 7.53, confidence interval (CI): 3.09-18.29, P < 0.001], ICU admission (OR: 1.79, CI: 1.13-2.83, P = 0.012), and need for mechanical ventilation (OR: 1.89, CI:1.94-2.99, P = 0.007). Hypertension was an independent risk factor for ICU admission (OR: 1.82, CI:1.17-2.84, P = 0.008) and need for mechanical ventilation (OR: 1.66, CI: 1.05-2.62, P = 0.028).
CONCLUSION Patients with GI symptoms are more likely to have severe disease at presentation; however, mortality and disease progression is not different between the two groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Umair Khan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha 3050, Qatar
- ECPE- Executive and Continuing Professional Education, Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115-5810, United States
| | - Kamran Mushtaq
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha 3050, Qatar
- ECPE- Executive and Continuing Professional Education, Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115-5810, United States
| | - Deema Hussam Alsoub
- ECPE- Executive and Continuing Professional Education, Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115-5810, United States
- Department of Palliative Care, National Center for Cancer Care & Research, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha 3050, Qatar
| | - Phool Iqbal
- Department of Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha 3050, Qatar
| | - Fateen Ata
- Department of Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha 3050, Qatar
| | | | - Fatima Iqbal
- ECPE- Executive and Continuing Professional Education, Harvard T.H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115-5810, United States
- Department of Infectious Disease, Communicable Disease Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha 3050, Qatar
| | - Girisha Balaraju
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha 3050, Qatar
| | - Muna A Al Maslamani
- Department of Infectious Disease, Communicable Disease Center, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha 3050, Qatar
| | - Betsy Varughese
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha 3050, Qatar
| | - Rajvir Singh
- Department of Cardiology Research, Heart Hospital, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha 3050, Qatar
| | - Khalid Al Ejji
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha 3050, Qatar
| | - Saad Al Kaabi
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha 3050, Qatar
| | - Yasser Medhat Kamel
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha 3050, Qatar
| | - Adeel Ajwad Butt
- Department of Medicine, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha 3050, Qatar
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10075, United States
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College - Qatar, Doha 24144, Qatar
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