scholarly journals Application of recommended preventive measures against COVID-19 could help mitigate the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection during dental practice: Results from a follow-up survey of French dentists

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0261439
Author(s):  
Hadrien Diakonoff ◽  
Sébastien Jungo ◽  
Nathan Moreau ◽  
Marco E. Mazevet ◽  
Anne-Laure Ejeil ◽  
...  

Background During the first-wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, dentists were considered at high-risk of infection. In France, to stop the spread of SARS-CoV-2, a nationwide lockdown was enforced, during which dentists suspended their routine clinical activities, working solely on dental emergencies. This measure has had an indisputable mitigating effect on the pandemic. To continue protecting dentists after suspension of nationwide lockdown, implementation of preventive measures was recommended, including adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and room aeration between patients. No study has explored whether implementation of such preventive measures since the end of the first-wave has had an impact on the contamination of dentists. Methods An online survey was conducted within a French dentist population between July and September 2020. To explore risk factors associated with COVID-19, univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed. Results The results showed that COVID-19 prevalence among the 3497 respondents was 3.6%. Wearing surgical masks during non-aerosol generating procedures was a risk factor of COVID-19, whereas reducing the number of patients was a protective factor. Conclusions Considering the similar COVID-19 prevalence between dentists and the general population, such data suggest that dentists are not overexposed in their work environment when adequate preventive measures are applied. Impact Dentists should wear specific PPE (FFP2, FFP3 or (K)N95 masks) including during non-aerosol generating procedures and reduce the number of patients to allow proper implementation of disinfection and aeration procedures. Considering the similarities between COVID-19 and other viral respiratory infections, such preventive measures may also be of interest to limit emerging variants spread as well as seasonal viral outbreaks.

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 1057-1061
Author(s):  
Zivadinka Cvetanovska ◽  
Vaso Taleski

Influenza is one of the commonest acute viral respiratory infections with a great potential for spreading as an epidemic or pandemic appearance. Until 2009 relevant data about types and subtypes of influenza viruses circulated in Republic of Macedonia, did not exist. Since pandemic in 2009, molecular method RT-PCR was introduced real time detection of types and subtypes of influenza viruses, which enabled continuously and accurate follow up. Flu differ in types and subtypes presence in each new season, with great influence on number of patients and deaths caused by influenza viral infections. In season 2009/2010 - type Influenza A dominated, subtype A (H1N1) pdm. Total number of 54.343 cases were registered and 30 deaths. In season 2010/2011 – co-circulated types of Influenza A and Influenza B, with small domination of subtype A (H1N1) pdm. Total number of 27.635 cases were registered and 17 deaths. In season 2011/2012 - dominant was type Influenza A, subtype A (H3N2). Total number of 9.732 cases were registered and only one case of death. In season 2012/2013 - co-circulated types of Influenza A and Influenza B, with domination of subtype A (H1N1) pdm. Total number of 24.524 were registered, no deaths. In season 2013/2014 - co-circulated types of Influenza A and Influenza B, with domination of subtype A (H3N2). Total number of 29.074 were registered and 12 deaths. In season 2014/2015 - dominant was type Influenza B, and also Influenza A subtype A(H3N2) circulated. Total number of reported cases was 33.228, no deaths. In season 2015/2016 - Influenza A, subtype A(H1N1) pdm was dominant. During same period, type Influenza B, subtype Victoria was detected as well. Total number of reported cases was 29.094 and 2 deaths. In season 2016/2017 - type Influenza A, subtype A/H3, was dominant. Total number of reported cases was 35.079 and 2 deaths. In season 2017/2018 година – simultaneously circulation of types Influenza А and Influenza B, with domination of lineage B/Yamagata. Total number of 23.954 cases were registered, no deaths. In season 2018/2019 - highest number of cases were caused by type Influenza A subtype A(H1) pdm, in co-circulation with Influenza А(H3). Total number of reported cases was 21.404 and 29 deaths, that present the highest number of deaths in correlation with number of diseased.


2017 ◽  
Vol 89 (11) ◽  
pp. 84-92
Author(s):  
N K Mazina ◽  
I V Sheshunov ◽  
P V Mazin ◽  
V P Mazin ◽  
A L Kovalenko ◽  
...  

The authors carried out a systematic review and subsequent meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials evaluating the efficacy of the immunomodulator agent cycloferon as tablets in adults and children with viral respiratory diseases. A total estimate of its clinical efficacy was obtained in terms of compared heterogeneous groups and response variables. The data published in 16 articles were used to calculate the formal parameters of the clinical efficacy of cycloferon (increased absolute and relative benefits, odds ratio (OR); the number of patients needed to be additionally treated with cycloferon to achieve a favorable outcome or to prevent a poor outcome in one patient, etc.). High heterogeneity hampered the unequivocal interpretation of results; however, combining the compared homogeneous groups in the meta-analysis (with adjustments for fixed and random effects) increased the statistical power of the investigation. In children aged 6 to 18 years, the OR for the positive effect of the drug (no new cases after its preventive administration) was 5.3 (95% confidence interval (CI), 4.8—5.9), heterogeneity test, χ= 249.5; p=0.000...; I= 94.8% (95% CI, 92.7—96.3%). This suggested the heterogeneity of clinical trial data and extrapolated this estimate to medical practice. The use of cycloferon in adults to treat acute respiratory viral infection enhanced their chances of enduring the disease in a mild form and avoiding serious complications: the OR for positive outcomes was 9.7 (95% CI, 7.0—13.0), while the effect was more homogeneous than in children (heterogeneity test, χ= 7.4; p=0.061...; I= 59.4% (95% CI, 0—86.5). Thus, the use of cycloferon to treat and prevent acute viral respiratory infections showed a more than 5-fold increase in the probability of avoiding the disease or enduring the latter in a mild form.


2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (5) ◽  
pp. 2001875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antoine Beurnier ◽  
Etienne-Marie Jutant ◽  
Mitja Jevnikar ◽  
Athénaïs Boucly ◽  
Jérémie Pichon ◽  
...  

BackgroundViral respiratory infections are the main causes of asthma exacerbation. The susceptibility of patients with asthma to develop an exacerbation when they present with severe pneumonia due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the characteristics and outcomes of asthmatic patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pneumonia who required hospitalisation during the spring 2020 outbreak in Paris, France.MethodsA prospective cohort follow-up was carried out from 15 March to 15 April 2020 in Bicêtre Hospital, University Paris-Saclay, France. All hospitalised patients with a SARS-CoV-2 infection who reported a history of asthma were included.ResultsAmong 768 hospitalised patients, 37 (4.8%) reported a history of asthma, which had been previously confirmed by a pulmonologist in 85% of cases. These asthmatic patients were mainly female (70%) and nonsmokers (85%), with a median age of 54 years (interquartile range (IQR) 42–67 years). None of them presented with an asthma exacerbation. 22 (59%) had major comorbidities and 31 (84%) had a body mass index ≥25 kg·m−2. The most common comorbidities were obesity (36%), hypertension (27%) and diabetes (19%). All patients had a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 pneumonia on computed tomography of the chest. Eosinopenia was a typical biological feature with a median count of 0 cells·mm−3 (IQR 0–0 cells·mm−3). 11 patients (30%) were admitted into the intensive care unit, with three deaths (8.1%) occurring in the context of comorbidities.ConclusionAsthma patients were not overrepresented among those with severe pneumonia due to SARS-CoV-2 infection who required hospitalisation. The worst outcomes were observed mainly in patients with major comorbidities.


Author(s):  
Valentin Sencio ◽  
Marina Gomes Machado ◽  
François Trottein

AbstractBacteria that colonize the human gastrointestinal tract are essential for good health. The gut microbiota has a critical role in pulmonary immunity and host’s defense against viral respiratory infections. The gut microbiota’s composition and function can be profoundly affected in many disease settings, including acute infections, and these changes can aggravate the severity of the disease. Here, we discuss mechanisms by which the gut microbiota arms the lung to control viral respiratory infections. We summarize the impact of viral respiratory infections on the gut microbiota and discuss the potential mechanisms leading to alterations of gut microbiota’s composition and functions. We also discuss the effects of gut microbial imbalance on disease outcomes, including gastrointestinal disorders and secondary bacterial infections. Lastly, we discuss the potential role of the lung–gut axis in coronavirus disease 2019.


Author(s):  
Sabrina R Raizada ◽  
Natasha Cleaton ◽  
James Bateman ◽  
Diarmuid M Mulherin ◽  
Nick Barkham

Abstract Objectives During the COVID-19 pandemic, face-to-face rheumatology follow-up appointments were mostly replaced with telephone or virtual consultations in order to protect vulnerable patients. We aimed to investigate the perspectives of rheumatology patients on the use of telephone consultations compared with the traditional face-to-face consultation. Methods We carried out a retrospective survey of all rheumatology follow-up patients at the Royal Wolverhampton Trust who had received a telephone consultation from a rheumatology consultant during a 4-week period via an online survey tool. Results Surveys were distributed to 1213 patients, of whom 336 (27.7%) responded, and 306 (91.1%) patients completed all components of the survey. Overall, an equal number of patients would prefer telephone clinics or face-to-face consultations for their next routine appointment. When divided by age group, the majority who preferred the telephone clinics were <50 years old [χ2 (d.f. = 3) = 10.075, P = 0.018]. Prevalence of a smartphone was higher among younger patients (<50 years old: 46 of 47, 97.9%) than among older patients (≥50 years old: 209 of 259, 80.7%) [χ2 (d.f. = 3) = 20.919, P < 0.001]. More patients reported that they would prefer a telephone call for urgent advice (168, 54.9%). Conclusion Most patients interviewed were happy with their routine face-to-face appointment being switched to a telephone consultation. Of those interviewed, patients >50 years old were less likely than their younger counterparts to want telephone consultations in place of face-to-face appointments. Most patients in our study would prefer a telephone consultation for urgent advice. We must ensure that older patients and those in vulnerable groups who value in-person contact are not excluded. Telephone clinics in some form are here to stay in rheumatology for the foreseeable future.


Author(s):  
Sinha Pranay ◽  
Katherine Reifler ◽  
Michael Rossi ◽  
Manish Sagar

Abstract Detection of diverse respiratory viruses in Boston was around 80% lower after practices were instituted to limit COVID-19 spread compared to the same time period during the previous five years. Continuing the strategies that lower COVID-19 dissemination may be useful in decreasing the incidence of other viral respiratory infections.


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