Risk Factors for the Transmission of Mycobacterium Bovis to Slaughterhouses Workers in Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo

Abstract Zoonotic tuberculosis is a major form of TB affecting humans and many animal species. Infected cattle pose a threat to public health. The aim of the study was to characterize the risks of exposure to bovine tuberculosis by slaughterhouse workers in Brazzaville. A survey was carried out among 57 workers from three slaughterhouses in Brazzaville (Mpila, Kanga Mbanzi and La Fougère) using questionnaires and field observations. The results of the profile revealed that the majority of staff are made up mainly of people over 40 years old (40.6 ± 8.4) i.e. 50.9% and 96.5% male. Married workers represent a third of respondents (29.8%) and live in families made up of 4.9 ± 2.4 people. Workers with secondary education are the majority (66.7%). The average number of years of work in slaughterhouses in Brazzaville is 18.9 ± 9.5 years. The survey also showed that many workers, 52.6%, have never received training to work in slaughterhouses. A tier of workers (31.7%) have no knowledge of animal tuberculosis, in particular its modes of transmission or its clinical signs. The premises are; normal, regularly cleaned, but are not disinfected. Despite the common occurrence of injuries, 73.7% of those surveyed said that they were not subjected to medical checks. To this, we must add, the lack of work clothes adapted by some (29.8%). All of these shortcomings constitute significant risks of contamination from zoonoses, and tuberculosis in particular. Thus, the study recommends strengthening the capacities of professionals in slaughterhouses, their medical follow-up and improve infrastructure. Finally, the fight against zoonotic tuberculosis requires a multisectoral framework involving doctors and veterinarians in the context of the "One Health" approach.</jats:p

Long-term neurological symptoms after acute COVID-19 illness requiring hospitalization in adult patients: insights from the ISARIC-COVID-19 follow-up study

in this study we aimed to characterize the type and prevalence of neurological symptoms related to neurological long-COVID-19 from a large international multicenter cohort of adults after discharge from hospital for acute COVID-19

Characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 patients admitted to hospital with and without respiratory symptoms

Background: COVID-19 is primarily known as a respiratory illness; however, many patients present to hospital without respiratory symptoms. The association between non-respiratory presentations of COVID-19 and outcomes remains unclear. We investigated risk factors and clinical outcomes in patients with no respiratory symptoms (NRS) and respiratory symptoms (RS) at hospital admission. Methods: This study describes clinical features, physiological parameters, and outcomes of hospitalised COVID-19 patients, stratified by the presence or absence of respiratory symptoms at hospital admission. RS patients had one or more of: cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose or wheezing; while NRS patients did not. Results: Of 178,640 patients in the study, 86.4&nbsp;% presented with RS, while 13.6&nbsp;% had NRS. NRS patients were older (median age: NRS: 74 vs RS: 65) and less likely to be admitted to the ICU (NRS: 36.7&nbsp;% vs RS: 37.5&nbsp;%). NRS patients had a higher crude in-hospital case-fatality ratio (NRS 41.1&nbsp;% vs. RS 32.0&nbsp;%), but a lower risk of death after adjusting for confounders (HR 0.88 [0.83-0.93]). Conclusion: Approximately one in seven COVID-19 patients presented at hospital admission without respiratory symptoms. These patients were older, had lower ICU admission rates, and had a lower risk of in-hospital mortality after adjusting for confounders