فهرست مطالب ahmad jabrodini

In late 2019, a new virus spread in China that led to an acute respiratory disease by lung involvement. The virus spread over time and affected many countries, including Iran. Hospital staff are also at high risk of being infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

The present study aimed to evaluate the seroprevalence of IgG class antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers and to compare the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) ward staff with other hospital wards.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on medical staff at Gerash University of Medical Sciences. After sampling the participants in this study, the production of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies was evaluated using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Demographic and other necessary information about patients were also recorded.

Out of 323 staff participating in this study, 130 (40.24%) were in inpatient wards [of which 26 (20%) were in the COVID-19 ward], 55 (17.02%) were in paraclinical wards, and 138 (42.72%) were in administrative wards. A total of 44 (13.6%) patients had anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies. There was no significant difference in the prevalence of antibodies between the three groups, but a significantly higher prevalence of antibodies was observed in the COVID-19 ward subgroup with 6 (23%) positive antibody tests, compared to other wards (P-value = 0.023).

Due to the higher prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in staff working in the COVID-19 ward than in other wards, more attention should be paid to health protocols and also emphasis on completing vaccination and monitoring the safety level of staff working in the COVID-19 ward.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is an infection caused by Candida species that affects millions of women every year. Due to increased drug resistance, selection of appropriate drugs has an effective role in controlling and improving the infection. The present study aimed to determine the frequency and drug susceptibility pattern in Candida species isolated from VVC in Gerash city.

This cross-sectional study was performed on vaginal samples of 268 patients referred to Amir-al-momenin Ali hospital in Gerash city, for six months from September 2018 to September 2019. All samples were examined direct microscopic and cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar medium with chloramphenicol (50mg/L). Candida species were identified using standard phenotypic tests and sugar assimilation tests (API20C). The drug susceptibility pattern was investigated by the Kirby-Bauer method. The Chi-square test was used for data analysis.

Out of 268 vaginal samples, 79 cases (29.47%) were positive for Candida species, among them 48 candida albicans strains (60.75%) and 31 Non-albicans candida species (24.39%) were isolated. Itching (51.89%) was the most common clinical symptom. The most and the least drug resistance in candida species was observed to Fluconazole (64.55%) and Amphotericin B (6.32%), respectively.

The VVC caused by Candida albicans is more common in comparison with Non-albicans candida species. For the initial treatment of Vulvovaginal candidiasis, the use of Amphotericin B and Caspofungin drugs is recommended.