•SARS-CoV-2 reinfection was confirmed on the basis of distinct viral isolates in 4 healthcare workers (HCWs).•All subvariants isolated after reinfection uniformly carried the S477N mutation.•Adequate ...humoral immune response may be the cause for limiting reinfection outcome.•HCWs should be still vaccinated to improve their protective immunity status.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, cases of reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 have been reported, raising additional public health concerns. SARS-CoV-2 reinfection was assessed in healthcare workers (HCWs) in Tunisia because they are at the greatest exposure to infection by different variants.
We conducted whole-genome sequencing of the viral RNA from clinical specimens collected during the initial infection and the suspected reinfection from 4 HCWs, who were working at the Habib Bourguiba University Hospital (Sfax, Tunisia) and retested positive for SARS-CoV-2 through reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) after recovery from a first infection. A total of 8 viral RNAs from the patients’ respiratory specimens were obtained, which allowed us to characterize the differences between viral genomes from initial infection and positive retest.
The serology status for total Ig, IgG, and IgM against SARS-CoV-2 was also determined and followed after the first infection.
We confirmed through whole-genome sequencing of the viral samples that all 4 cases experienced a reinfection event. The interval between the 2 infection events ranged between 45 and 141 days, and symptoms were milder in the second infection for 2 patients and more severe for the remaining 2 patients. Reinfection occurred in all 4 patients despite the presence of antibodies in 3 of them.
This study adds to the rapidly growing evidence of COVID-19 reinfection, where viral sequences were used to confirm infection by distinct isolates of SARS-CoV-2 in HCWs. These findings suggest that individuals who are exposed to different SARS-CoV-2 variants might not acquire sufficiently protective immunity through natural infection and emphasize the necessity of their vaccination and the regular follow-up of their immune status both in quantitative and qualitative terms.
•Simulators are becoming necessary tools in medical and nursing education.•One of the procedures with a high-risk rate of complications is the vascular puncture.•Ultrasound-guided vascular access is ...a medical procedure that is becoming increasingly common in hospitals.•Developing countries are suffering from limited availability of simulation models.
Ultrasound-guided vascular access is a medical procedure that is becoming increasingly common in daily practice and is recommended to avoid iatrogenic complications. One of the procedures with a high-risk rate of complications is the vascular puncture. However, training on this technique can be challenging due to the limited availability of simulation models. We propose a simple, cost-effective, and effective ultrasound-guided vascular access simulation model that utilizes chicken breast and a urine catheter to address this need.
Introductionl’accident vasculaire cérébral (AVC) constitue un problème majeur de santé publique, tant par le nombre de personnes atteintes, que par ses conséquences médicales, sociales et ...économiques. L’objectif était de dégager les facteurs de mauvais pronostic vital à la phase aiguë de l’AVC artériel.Méthodesil s’agit d’une étude prospective durant quatre mois portant sur les patients présentant une symptomatologie évocatrice d’AVC aux deux CHU de Sfax, Tunisie. Le suivi a été d’un mois.Résultatsnous avons colligé 200 patients. Après un mois de suivi, la mortalité était de 19,9%. Les facteurs de mauvais pronostic vital étaient: le sexe masculin, la consommation de tabac, l’antécédent d’AVC, le score de Glasgow bas, le NIHSS élevé, les céphalées, les crises épileptiques symptomatiques aiguës, le signe de Babinski, la mydriase, l’aphasie, la déviation conjuguée de la tête et des yeux, les chiffres élevés de pression artérielle systolique (PAS), pression artérielle diastolique (PAD) et pression artérielle pulmonaire (PAP), l’hyperthermie, l’hyperglycémie, l’hyperleucocytose, l’augmentation des CRP, créatinine, urée et la troponine Tc, la nature hémorragique de l’AVC, l’œdème péri lésionnel, l’effet de masse, l’engagement, la topographie sylvienne totale de l’ischémie, la présence de signes précoces d’ischémie, l’hémorragie méningée, l’inondation ventriculaire, l’hydrocéphalie, le recours à une assistance respiratoire, au traitement anti-œdémateux et antihypertenseur, la transformation hémorragique, l’épilepsie vasculaire, les complications infectieuses, métaboliques et de décubitus.Conclusionl’identification des facteurs prédictifs du devenir vital permet d’optimiser les procédures thérapeutiques et mieux organiser les filières de prise en charge. Une étude comparative sera envisagée afin de mesurer l’impact des mesures correctives.
Study objective The New Orleans Criteria and the Canadian CT Head Rule have been developed to decrease the number of normal computed tomography (CT) results in mild head injury. We compare the ...performance of both decision rules for indentifying patients with intracranial traumatic lesions and those who require an urgent neurosurgical intervention after mild head injury. Methods This was an observational cohort study performed between 2008 and 2011 on patients with mild head injury who were aged 10 years or older. We collected prospectively clinical head CT scan findings and outcome. Primary outcome was need for neurosurgical intervention, defined as either death or craniotomy, or the need of intubation within 15 days of the traumatic event. Secondary outcome was the presence of traumatic lesions on head CT scan. New Orleans Criteria and Canadian CT Head Rule decision rules were compared by using sensitivity specifications and positive and negative predictive value. Results We enrolled 1,582 patients. Neurosurgical intervention was performed in 34 patients (2.1%) and positive CT findings were demonstrated in 218 patients (13.8%). Sensitivity and specificity for need for neurosurgical intervention were 100% (95% confidence interval CI 90% to 100%) and 60% (95% CI 44% to 76%) for the Canadian CT Head Rule and 82% (95% CI 69% to 95%) and 26% (95% CI 24% to 28%) for the New Orleans Criteria. Negative predictive values for the abovementioned clinical decision rules were 100% and 99% and positive values were 5% and 2%, respectively, for the Canadian CT Head Rule and New Orleans Criteria. Sensitivity and specificity for clinical significant head CT findings were 95% (95% CI 92% to 98%) and 65% (95% CI 62% to 68%) for the Canadian CT Head Rule and 86% (95% CI 81% to 91%) and 28% (95% CI 26% to 30%) for the New Orleans Criteria. A similar trend of results was found in the subgroup of patients with a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 15. Conclusion For patients with mild head injury, the Canadian CT Head Rule had higher sensitivity than the New Orleans Criteria, with higher negative predictive value. The question of whether the use of the Canadian CT Head Rule would have a greater influence on head CT scan reduction requires confirmation in real clinical practice.
>1000 ricin poisoning cases secondary to intentional castor bean consumption have been reported in the literature since the late 1800s. The lethality of ricin poisoning after oral ingestion is ...determined by a few factors.
We present a case that highlights the erratic absorption of ricin after accidental oral ingestion. On admission, the physical examination found a somnolent patient, with miosis, and a generalized abdominal tenderness. Her blood tests showed metabolic acidosis. Thanks to her early management, the discharge was possible three days later.
The toxicity of ricin is dependent on the dose delivered and the route of the exposure. Supportive care is the mainstay of treatment. As shown in our case, early management is crucial for a good outcome.
•Simulators are becoming necessary tools in medical and nursing education.•Chest tube management is one of the major complex skills.•Low-cost simulators are not available namely in developing ...countries.
Simulation-based medical education is becoming a cornerstone in health education. Simulators are commonly expensive and not available in developing countries.
We propose a very low-cost simulator that any educator can realize. We describe here the steps to follow to develop this proposed simulator.
Frail older adults are at an increased risk for adverse outcomes after an Emergency Department (ED) visit. Several tools exist for the screening of frailty among these patients. However, no tool has ...been validated in Tunisia. This study aims to evaluate the usefulness of frailty screening in predicting the outcome of older adults presenting to the ED.
This is a prospective, monocentric study. We evaluated the eligible patients at the ED and after their discharge. Follow-up phone calls were scheduled at 1, 2, 3, and 6 months after the ED visit. All patients aged 65 years or older; and visiting the ED during the inclusion period were involved. We used the ADL index and ISAR scale for assessing frailty.
We enrolled 184 patients; they were living alone in 25% of cases. Half of them had medical care insurance. The ADL index was maximum (6 = total dependency) in 20% of cases. The ISAR score was above 1 point in 38%. Unplanned hospitalizations have accounted for 34%. In univariate analysis, the ADL index and ISAR score were statistically higher in the group of “unplanned hospitalization”. In multivariate analysis, the ISAR score and ADL index have not been associated with unplanned hospitalization.
Our results did not demonstrate the relevance of the ISAR or ADL scales in predicting the mortality or the need for unplanned hospitalization in multivariate analysis. This study did indicate an increased mortality in the “frail” patients in the univariate analysis. Further studies with larger samples and different tools are necessary.
Stroke is a public health problem worldwide. Community stroke knowledge is crucial to guide the prevention approach. We aimed to evaluate the level of stroke knowledge among the visitors to Emergency ...Centres (ECs) in the southern region of Tunisia concerning factors of risk, symptoms, and treatment of stroke.
A multicenter cross-sectional survey about stroke knowledge; conducted in five ECs for 10 days. All the visitors to these ECs were invited to participate in this survey. In each center, one investigator had to conduct the questionnaire. We used the stroke knowledge test (SKT).
We enrolled 839 participants aged at 44 ± 7 years and with an M/F sex-ratio at 0.9. Relatives and mass media were the most reported sources of information about stroke. In 32.3% of cases, the participants had a university schooling level. The upper quartile had an SKT score of 55% or over (n = 247; 29.4%). The SKT score was significantly higher in young, female participants, in rural centers, with a university level of schooling and with no reported chronic diseases. Receiving information about stroke through the medium of television or via relatives was an independent predictor of a high SKT score compared with other knowledge sources.
This study emphasises the urgent need for improving the population's knowledge about stroke in Tunisia. These findings may reflect the lack of government policies for education and training on stroke. A national educating program is necessary to implement to increase stroke knowledge.
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