COVID-19: Known & Unknown Facts | Chapter 11 | Disease and Health: Research Developments Vol. 2

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has significantly reshaped global health systems, economies, and societal dynamics. Since its emergence in late 2019, extensive research has shed light on various aspects of the virus and its impact. Known facts about COVID-19 include its zoonotic origin, primarily attributed to wildlife-to-human transmission; its high transmissibility through respiratory droplets, aerosols, and contaminated surfaces; and its ability to cause a spectrum of disease severity ranging from asymptomatic infections to life-threatening complications like acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). The development and distribution of vaccines have been pivotal in mitigating the severity of outbreaks and reducing mortality rates. Treatments such as antiviral drugs, monoclonal antibodies, and supportive care have also improved patient outcomes.

Despite these advances, numerous unknowns persist. These include the exact origins of the virus, the mechanisms behind long-term effects such as “long COVID,” and the virus’s ability to mutate into more virulent or vaccine-resistant variants. Furthermore, questions remain regarding the duration of vaccine-induced immunity, the virus’s interaction with pre-existing chronic conditions, and the societal and psychological impacts of prolonged pandemic conditions. By consolidating the known and unknown facts about COVID-19, this chapter aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the disease’s multifaceted nature and inform public health policies worldwide.

 

Author (s) Details

 

Rakesh Tank
Department of General Medicine, SHKM Government Medical College, Nuh, Haryana-122107, India.

 

Priyanka Tank
Department of Paediatrics, SHKM Government Medical College, Nuh, Haryana-122107, India.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/dhrd/v2/3648

Microbial Profile and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Pattern of Pathogens Isolated from Long COVID-19 Patients and Their Correlation to Clinical Outcome: A Case Study of the a Tertiary Medical Institution in Eastern India | Chapter 14 | Advancement and New Understanding in Medical Science Vol. 8

 Aim: The study aimed to discuss about Microbial profile and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of pathogens isolated from long COVID-19 patients and their correlation to clinical outcome.

 

Background: Despite being reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR) negative for COVID infection, patients with persistent symptoms for at least four weeks are classified as long-term COVID-19 patients (pulmonary involvement is noted in a substantial number of cases). Patients who have a history of long-term use of corticosteroids, broad-spectrum antibiotics, and co-occurring illnesses are at a higher risk of contracting multidrug-resistant microbial strains. A worse prognosis could result from it, thus prompt microbiological assessment and treatment can improve the situation.

 

Methods: A retrospective observational study was carried out among long COVID patients admitted to the Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India, a tertiary care hospital. Eighty-four patients admitted to the ICU or non-ICU ward in the hospital from April to October 2021 were included in the study. Antibiotics, as prescribed by our hospital antibiotic policy, were administered wherever required and were subsequently changed according to culture and sensitivity reports of the samples (sputum, endotracheal aspirates, or blood). An analysis of the antibiotic sensitivity patterns of the pathogens isolated was performed. The outcome after optimum medical management was assessed for survivors, discharge, or death.

 

Results: Out of the total of 84 patients, 41 samples (sputum, endotracheal aspirates or blood) were collected and sent for culture, of which 32 (78.1%) were found to be culture positive for pathogens. Among the pathogens isolated, there were 22 (69%) drug-resistant and 10 (31%) sensitive organisms. Among the 22 resistant pathogen isolates, 18 were Gram-negative species, the most common species being Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumanii; two were Gram-positive species, one each from Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis, and three were Candida tropicalis. Of five deaths reported among 22 cases with resistant isolates, extensively drug-resistant (XDR), multi-drug resistance (MDR), and pan drug resistance (PDR) strains were detected in three, one, and one cases, respectively, and were harboured by K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, and A. baumanii. Of the total eight deaths, there were two deaths among the 43 patients who received an empiric antibiotic in the wards, and six deaths were reported in the ICU. Despite raised biomarkers of inflammation, comorbid illnesses, renal impairment, and immunocompromised states, there was 91% survival and discharge, which was statistically significant (p- value = 0.00).

 

Conclusion: To conclude, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, A. baumanii, C. tropicalis, S. aureus, and E. faecalis were the most commonly isolated organisms among long COVID pneumonia cases, of which some were MDR, PDR and XDR strains. Early microbiological evaluation with targeted, proper antimicrobial usage along with optimized medical management and, wherever needed, critical care support in the ICU may lead to a better prognostic outcome in those groups of patients. The survival advantage could be due to the better threshold of ICU care, judicious antimicrobial administration, and keeping antimicrobial stewardship as a priority. Death was noticed among ICU patients, those suffering from pneumonia, and those harbouring multi-drug-resistant Gram-negative organisms.

Author(s) Details:

C. Mohan Rao,
Pulmonary Medicine Department, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India.

Ashwini P. Pattnaik,
Nephrology Department, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India.

Shubhransu Patro,
General Medicine Department, Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences, Bhubaneswar, India.

 Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/ANUMS-V8/article/view/13593

SARS COVID-19 Case Studies: Diagnostic Tests, Vaccination Challenges and Disease Outcomes | Chapter 8 | Current Overview on Disease and Health Research Vol. 5

 Encyclopedically, COVID- 19 has redounded in losses and significant bouleversement. A zoonotic illness that has spread from its original beast host to infect people and spread throughout the world. It has put pressure on the healthcare structure of countries that are ill- equipped to combat this complaint. It's preferable to vaccinate a group to make impunity. Due to vaccine monopolies, fat countries can immunize the maturity of their people whereas underdeveloped countries can only immunize a small portion. Newer variants are likely to crop . The Omicron variant has followed former surges od the nascence and Delta variants. Non pharmacological measures will remain an important preventative strategy for delaying viral spread and reducing complaint. Covid- 19 causes acute respiratory failure and has sequelae nominated long covid that causes multi organ dysfunction. This has huge impact on health related quality of life( HRQol).

Author(s) Details:

B. A. Bulbulia,
Department of Anesthesiology, Garden City Clinic, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/CODHR-V5/article/view/8445

Postinfection-post Vaccination Autoimmune Neural Long COVID-19: A Review | Chapter 11 | Challenges and Advances in Pharmaceutical Research Vol. 4

In healthy human patients, auto-antibodies and auto-reactive immune cells may be present in the normal physiological autoimmune state. A spike protein was incorporated into the virus in case of post-infection during the post-sars-cov-2 infection and post-vaccination phases. Alternatively, the peptide produced by the spike protein sequence of the human COVID-19 m The human vaccinee cells include auto-reacting epitopes for RNA vaccines. Both the vaccinee cells and the viral spike protein include molecular mimicking epitopes that either share or are mono-specific to the immune system and cause autoimmune reactions. Immune conversion states can result in single or many organ problems that show the patho-biologic traits of autoimmune long covid-19, which can cause autoimmune tissue damage. This mechanistic analysis of the lengthy CoVID-19 is supported by its placement on the list of autoimmune registry 2021. Some employees believe that autoantibodies are the cause of autoimmune long COVID-19. While there is still some debate, some researchers think that auto-antibodies and auto-reacting immune cells are both implicated. In this chapter, a literature show-case study of neural autoimmune long COVID-19 was provided, along with a recommendation for an animal model for post-infection, post-vaccination, long COVID-19. These two illness entities overlap one another.

Author (s) Details:

Ibrahim M. S. Shnawa,
Department of Anesthesia Technology, Hillah University College and College of Biotechnology, University of Qasim, Babylon, Iraq.

Please see the link here: https://stm.bookpi.org/CAPR-V4/article/view/7513