Exploring changes in levels and patterns of physical activity in undergraduate medical and nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic

This study reports the physical activity (PA) levels among medical and nursing students at a university in Bahrain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through self-selection sampling of an online survey, participants' data on general demographics, PA levels before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and reasons for PA changes were collected. From the 110 valid responses, 70 participants (63%) experienced a decrease in PA during the COVID-19 lockdown. Fear of contracting COVID-19 and lack of motivation were two significant reasons for reduced PA levels (p < 0.001) compared to those who did not experience a decrease in PA. Other factors significantly associated with reduced PA levels include living alone (p < 0.018) or with roommates (p < 0.006) compared to living with family. Having more time available was associated with positive changes to PA levels (p < 0.001). Significant differences in MET-min/week were seen between students who experienced increased PA (median of 1605 MET-min/week) compared to those who experienced a decrease (424 MET-min/week) or no change (1070 MET-min/week) in PA levels (p < 0.001). In conclusion, low PA levels are prevalent within medical and nursing students in Bahrain (51% reported < 600 MET-min/week), with ~2 in 3 students reporting a decrease in PA levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Support programs and strategies to increase engagement in PA within this population are warranted

Exploring changes in levels and patterns of physical activity in undergraduate medical and nursing students during the COVID-19 pandemic

This study reports the physical activity (PA) levels among medical and nursing students at a university in Bahrain during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through self-selection sampling of an online survey, participants' data on general demographics, PA levels before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and reasons for PA changes were collected. From the 110 valid responses, 70 participants (63%) experienced a decrease in PA during the COVID-19 lockdown. Fear of contracting COVID-19 and lack of motivation were two significant reasons for reduced PA levels (p < 0.001) compared to those who did not experience a decrease in PA. Other factors significantly associated with reduced PA levels include living alone (p < 0.018) or with roommates (p < 0.006) compared to living with family. Having more time available was associated with positive changes to PA levels (p < 0.001). Significant differences in MET-min/week were seen between students who experienced increased PA (median of 1605 MET-min/week) compared to those who experienced a decrease (424 MET-min/week) or no change (1070 MET-min/week) in PA levels (p < 0.001). In conclusion, low PA levels are prevalent within medical and nursing students in Bahrain (51% reported < 600 MET-min/week), with ~2 in 3 students reporting a decrease in PA levels during the COVID-19 pandemic. Support programs and strategies to increase engagement in PA within this population are warranted

COVID-19 recovery patterns across alpha (B.1.1.7) and delta (B.1.617.2) variants of SARS-CoV-2

Background: B.1.1.7 (alpha) and B.1.617.2 (delta) variants of concern for SARS-CoV-2 have been reported to have differential infectivity and pathogenicity. Difference in recovery patterns across these variants and the interaction with vaccination status has not been reported in population-based studies.Objective: The objective of this research was to study the length of stay and temporal trends in RT-PCR cycle times (Ct) across alpha and delta variants of SARS-CoV-2 between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.Methods: Participants consisted of patients admitted to national COVID-19 treatment facilities if they had a positive RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2, and analysis of variants was performed (using whole genome sequencing). Information on vaccination status, age, sex, cycle times (Ct) for four consecutive RT-PCR tests conducted during hospital stay, and total length of hospital stay for each participant were ascertained from electronic medical records.Results: Patients infected with the delta variant were younger (mean age = 35years vs 39 years for alpha, pConclusion: Patients infected with the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 were found to have a slower recovery as indicated by longer length of stay and higher shedding of the virus compared to alpha variant infections, and this trend was consistent in both vaccinated and unvaccinated patients.</div

COVID-19 recovery patterns across alpha (B.1.1.7) and delta (B.1.617.2) variants of SARS-CoV-2

Background: B.1.1.7 (alpha) and B.1.617.2 (delta) variants of concern for SARS-CoV-2 have been reported to have differential infectivity and pathogenicity. Difference in recovery patterns across these variants and the interaction with vaccination status has not been reported in population-based studies.Objective: The objective of this research was to study the length of stay and temporal trends in RT-PCR cycle times (Ct) across alpha and delta variants of SARS-CoV-2 between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals.Methods: Participants consisted of patients admitted to national COVID-19 treatment facilities if they had a positive RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2, and analysis of variants was performed (using whole genome sequencing). Information on vaccination status, age, sex, cycle times (Ct) for four consecutive RT-PCR tests conducted during hospital stay, and total length of hospital stay for each participant were ascertained from electronic medical records.Results: Patients infected with the delta variant were younger (mean age = 35years vs 39 years for alpha, pConclusion: Patients infected with the delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 were found to have a slower recovery as indicated by longer length of stay and higher shedding of the virus compared to alpha variant infections, and this trend was consistent in both vaccinated and unvaccinated patients.</div

Is glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenase deficiency associated with severe outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients?

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDd) is known to suppress the antioxidant system and is likely to aggravate severity of COVID-19, which results in a pro-oxidant response. This possible association has not been explored adequately in human studies. In this research, we report that the occurrence of non-invasive ventilation, intubation or death-all of which are indicative of severe COVID-19, are not significantly different in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with and without G6PDd (4.6 vs. 6.4%, p = 0.33). The likelihood of developing any of these severe outcomes were slightly lower in patients with G6PDd after accounting for age, nationality, presence of comorbidities and drug interventions (Odds ratio 0.40, 95% confidence intervals 0.142, 1.148). Further investigation that extends to both, hospitalized and non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients, is warranted to study this potential association

Is glucose-6-phosphatase dehydrogenase deficiency associated with severe outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients?

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PDd) is known to suppress the antioxidant system and is likely to aggravate severity of COVID-19, which results in a pro-oxidant response. This possible association has not been explored adequately in human studies. In this research, we report that the occurrence of non-invasive ventilation, intubation or death-all of which are indicative of severe COVID-19, are not significantly different in hospitalized COVID-19 patients with and without G6PDd (4.6 vs. 6.4%, p = 0.33). The likelihood of developing any of these severe outcomes were slightly lower in patients with G6PDd after accounting for age, nationality, presence of comorbidities and drug interventions (Odds ratio 0.40, 95% confidence intervals 0.142, 1.148). Further investigation that extends to both, hospitalized and non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients, is warranted to study this potential association

Time till viral clearance of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 is similar for asymptomatic and non-critically symptomatic individuals.

Despite the modeled estimations of the burden of asymptomatic spread, the duration of viral positivity and infectiousness of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains understudied. The objective of the present study was to estimate and compare the time till viral clearance of SARS-CoV-2 in asymptomatic and non-critical symptomatic individuals. We studied 184 SARS-CoV-2-positive participants, of whom 145 were asymptomatic. Our analysis uncovered that time till viral negativity is similar for subclinical [median time till viral clearance: 11 days, interquartile range (IQR): 8, 14] and overt infections (median: 11 days, IQR: 9, 14) after controlling for age and sex. This has implications in understanding the period of infectivity for SARS-CoV-2 in order to plan adequate public health measures to control the community spread

Time till viral clearance of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 is similar for asymptomatic and non-critically symptomatic individuals.

Despite the modeled estimations of the burden of asymptomatic spread, the duration of viral positivity and infectiousness of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains understudied. The objective of the present study was to estimate and compare the time till viral clearance of SARS-CoV-2 in asymptomatic and non-critical symptomatic individuals. We studied 184 SARS-CoV-2-positive participants, of whom 145 were asymptomatic. Our analysis uncovered that time till viral negativity is similar for subclinical [median time till viral clearance: 11 days, interquartile range (IQR): 8, 14] and overt infections (median: 11 days, IQR: 9, 14) after controlling for age and sex. This has implications in understanding the period of infectivity for SARS-CoV-2 in order to plan adequate public health measures to control the community spread

Prevalence and resistance patterns of pediatric urinary tract infections in Bahrain.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are a commonly encountered infection in the pediatric age group. Knowledge of the causative pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance patterns in specific geographical locations is important to provide optimum care. The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence and the antimicrobial resistance patterns of the pathogens causing UTI in the pediatric age group in one tertiary inpatient Pediatric unit in Bahrain.  Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study, conducted at King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH), Bahrain. The inclusion criteria consisted of patients ≤ 14 years of age admitted to the Pediatrics department at KHUH with bacteriologically proven UTI between the months of January 2018 and May 2021. Patients who were identified to have chronic urinary tract conditions or neurodevelopmental problems involving the urinary tract were excluded from the study. Electronic medical records were used to collect data regarding the isolated pathogens and sensitivity testing results.  Results: A total of 242 cases with positive culture were included. The most common bacteria causing UTI in this sample were successively Escherichia coli (68.60%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (10.30%), Proteus mirabilis (4.69%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3.31%) (pE. coli was most resistant to cefazolin (94%), followed by ampicillin (62.68%), whilst it was most sensitive to nitrofurantoin (98.96%) followed by amikacin (98.43%) (pK. pneumoniae showed the highest rate of resistance to ampicillin (95.24%) followed by cefazolin (83.33%), meanwhile having the highest sensitivity rate to amikacin (95.24%), followed by ciprofloxacin (90.48%). P. mirabilis had the highest resistance to cefazolin (100%) followed by nitrofurantoin (87.50%), while having the highest sensitivity to piperacillin/tazobactam (100%).  Conclusion: E. coli is the most common cause of UTI in the pediatric population and it was found to be most sensitive to nitrofurantoin and amikacin whilst being relatively resistant to cefazolin and ampicillin. Similarities between our study and previous studies around the world were found when comparing the antibiotics resistance patterns. Nevertheless, it is our recommendation that empirical antibiotic selection should be tailored to the local data collected from the region.</p

Prevalence and resistance patterns of pediatric urinary tract infections in Bahrain.

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTI) are a commonly encountered infection in the pediatric age group. Knowledge of the causative pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance patterns in specific geographical locations is important to provide optimum care. The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence and the antimicrobial resistance patterns of the pathogens causing UTI in the pediatric age group in one tertiary inpatient Pediatric unit in Bahrain.  Methods: This is a retrospective cross-sectional study, conducted at King Hamad University Hospital (KHUH), Bahrain. The inclusion criteria consisted of patients ≤ 14 years of age admitted to the Pediatrics department at KHUH with bacteriologically proven UTI between the months of January 2018 and May 2021. Patients who were identified to have chronic urinary tract conditions or neurodevelopmental problems involving the urinary tract were excluded from the study. Electronic medical records were used to collect data regarding the isolated pathogens and sensitivity testing results.  Results: A total of 242 cases with positive culture were included. The most common bacteria causing UTI in this sample were successively Escherichia coli (68.60%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (10.30%), Proteus mirabilis (4.69%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3.31%) (pE. coli was most resistant to cefazolin (94%), followed by ampicillin (62.68%), whilst it was most sensitive to nitrofurantoin (98.96%) followed by amikacin (98.43%) (pK. pneumoniae showed the highest rate of resistance to ampicillin (95.24%) followed by cefazolin (83.33%), meanwhile having the highest sensitivity rate to amikacin (95.24%), followed by ciprofloxacin (90.48%). P. mirabilis had the highest resistance to cefazolin (100%) followed by nitrofurantoin (87.50%), while having the highest sensitivity to piperacillin/tazobactam (100%).  Conclusion: E. coli is the most common cause of UTI in the pediatric population and it was found to be most sensitive to nitrofurantoin and amikacin whilst being relatively resistant to cefazolin and ampicillin. Similarities between our study and previous studies around the world were found when comparing the antibiotics resistance patterns. Nevertheless, it is our recommendation that empirical antibiotic selection should be tailored to the local data collected from the region.</p