The current literature shows increasing concerns about potential seminal transmission of monkeypox virus (MPXV). Accordingly, we aimed to understand better the potential presence of MPXV in the ...seminal fluids and others specimens obtained from MPX cases. On June 26, 2022, a systematic search of the literature was conducted to find articles that examine the presence of MPXV in the seminal fluid of confirmed cases. The search was updated once on August 12 and another on October 12, 2022, to include newly published articles. The prevalence of MPXV DNA presence in the seminal fluid and other specimens was pooled in a meta‐analysis (from studies with sample size > 5 to reduce overestimation) and results were presented as effect sizes (ES) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). Nine articles were included. Only five studies were eligible for a meta‐analysis, and the pooled prevalence of MPXV DNA in semen specimens was 72.4% (95% CI: 55.7%−84.5%) among 115 patients. The positive rate of MPXV viral polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was higher among skin samples (89%; 95% CI: 78.2%−94.8%; N = 62; studies = 2), followed by anogenital/rectal samples (74.3%; 95% CI: 60.4%−84.5%; N = 54; studies = 2). On the other hand, the positivity rate was lower in nasopharyngeal (62.4%; 95% CI: 20.4%−91.5%; N = 587; studies = 3), urine (21.1%; 95% CI: 4.3%−61.1%; N = 617; studies = 4), and blood/plasma (14.3%; 95% CI: 11.3%−18.1%; N = 609; studies = 3) samples. Besides, MPXV can be detected in semen early from Day 1 and up to 19 days after symptoms onset. Finally, two articles investigated the infectivity of MPXV particles detected in seminal specimens by testing their replication competence. Culturing MPXV was successful in two out of four patients included in these studies. MPXV is highly prevalent in seminal specimens of MPX cases, further corroborating the role of sexual transmission of the disease. However, further evidence is still needed to shed more light on the replication competence of these particles.
The impact of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) and subsequent steroid therapy on acquiring COVID-19 and severe outcomes remains controversial. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review and ...meta-analysis to provide cumulative evidence regarding the risk of COVID-19 and the impact of steroid therapy, length of hospital stay, mechanical ventilation, and mortality among CRC patients.
We conducted a comprehensive electronic search strategy using the relevant keywords. The outcomes and risk factors of COVID-19 in CRS patients was estimated and compared to a healthy control group when applicable.
A total of seven studies were included, with an estimated prevalence of 6.5% (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.5-15.7) for COVID-19 in the CRS group. COVID-19 prevalence did not differ between CRS and controls (odds ratio (OR): 0.92; 95%CI: 0.84-1.01; p = 0.08). Moreover, using steroid/immunosuppressive therapy did not significantly increase the risk of acquiring COVID-19 in CRS patients compared to the control group (OR: 3.31; 95%CI: 0.72-15.26; p = 0.12). Length of hospital stay, mechanical ventilation, and mortality rates were comparable between the two groups. Furthermore, we found that male sex, cardiovascular morbidity, renal diseases, and hypertension were inversely associated with COVID-19 infection (p < 0.01).
CRS had a neutral effect on acquiring COVID-19 and developing severe outcomes. However, further studies are needed.
(1) Background: The monkeypox virus (MPV) is a double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the Poxviridae family, Chordopoxvirinae subfamily, and Orthopoxvirus genus. It was called monkeypox because it ...was first discovered in monkeys, in a Danish laboratory, in 1958. However, the actual reservoir for MPV is still unknown. (2) Methods and Results: We have reviewed the existing literature on the options for Monkeypox virus. There are three available vaccines for orthopoxviruses—ACAM2000, JYNNEOS, and LC16—with the first being a replicating vaccine and the latter being non- or minimally replicating. (3) Conclusions: Smallpox vaccinations previously provided coincidental immunity to MPV. ACAM2000 (a live-attenuated replicating vaccine) and JYNNEOS (a live-attenuated, nonreplicating vaccine) are two US FDA-approved vaccines that can prevent monkeypox. However, ACAM2000 may cause serious side effects, including cardiac problems, whereas JYNNEOS is associated with fewer complications. The recent outbreaks across the globe have once again highlighted the need for constant monitoring and the development of novel prophylactic and therapeutic modalities. Based on available data, there is still a need to develop an effective and safe new generation of vaccines specific for monkeypox that are killed or developed into a mRNA vaccine before monkeypox is declared a pandemic.
Ghana, a country in the African continent experienced its first ever outbreak of Marburg Virus disease on July 2022. Prior to this, Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola were the two most severely ...affected countries to be affected by the same disease. Marburg Virus disease is a lethal and serious disease with an average mortality of 50% and has been seen to go as high as 90% in some cases. But despite the propensity to cause fast epidemics, the Ghana government acted swiftly and controlled its spread saving many lives. Simultaneously the country was also facing the Monkeypox outbreak and was doing its best to control the outbreak. This brief article is about the containment measures taken by the country to effectively prevent both the diseases to spread.
Monkeypox (MPX) was a rare endemic disease in western and central Africa. In 1970, the first detected case of human MPX was reported in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and it was detected outside ...Africa in 2003. Currently, there are about 31,799 confirmed MPX cases which led the WHO to declare the disease a public health emergency of international concern which is considered the seventh deceleration by the WHO between 2009 and 2022. Herein, we aim to review the history behind the outbreak of the disease, its mode of transmission, and the target of WHO deceleration, while providing recommendations for disease prevention. The disease is prevalent mostly in the United States with a total case number of 10,676 which is considered a high-risk country. Meanwhile, other countries are at moderate risk. The disease can be transmitted directly through contact with different body fluids, infectious lesions, or sexual activity. We conclude that there should be high public awareness to stop the transmission of the disease. In addition, there is a great need to follow the instructions provided by public health institutions since vaccines, till now, are available only for high-risk populations secondary to their shortage.
Staphylococcus aureus causes a wide range of illnesses, from skin infections and persistent bone infections to life-threatening septicemia and endocarditis. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is ...one of the most common bacteria that cause nosocomial and community-acquired infections. Clindamycin is one of the most effective treatments for several bacterial infections. Despite this, these infections may develop inducible clindamycin resistance during treatment, leading to treatment failure. This study determined the incidence of inducible clindamycin resistance among S. aureus clinical isolates. A total of 800 S. aureus strains were identified from clinical samples collected from several university hospitals in Egypt. All isolates were examined for the presence of MRSA using cefoxitin (30 μg) and the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion technique. The induction phenotypes of all 800 S. aureus strains were evaluated using the disk approximation test (D test), as recommended by the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute. Of the 800 strains of S. aureus, 540 (67.5%) were identified as MRSA and 260 (32.5%) were classified as methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA). In MRSA infections, clindamycin constitutive and inducible resistance was more frequent than in MSSA infections (27.8% versus 11.5% and 38.9% versus 15.4%, respectively). Clindamycin-sensitive strains were more prevalent in MSSA (53.8%) than in MRSA (20.4%) infections. In conclusion, the frequency of constitutive and inducible clindamycin resistance in MRSA isolates emphasizes the need to use the D test in routine antimicrobial susceptibility testing to evaluate clindamycin susceptibility, as the inducible resistance phenotype can inhibit the action of clindamycin and thus affect treatment efficacy.
