Influenza vaccination coverage and obstacles in healthcare workers (HCWs) and the follow up of side effects: A multicenter investigation in Iran

Introduction. Influenza is a highly contagious acute respiratory illness. Due to the high exposure of hospital personnel, widespread vaccination of these high-risk groups seems to be a necessity in healthcare centers. To determine vaccination coverage in the personnel of four tertiary referral collegiate hospitals in 2019, and to further investigate individual obstacles for Influenza vaccination. Methods. In this cross-sectional descriptive study, 637 personnel were selected randomly from distinctive hospitals in a list-wised. Ones vaccinated filled the side effects questionnaire and who not vaccinated filled the vaccination obstacles questionnaire. Results. The mean vaccination coverage was 29.4% and the coverage difference among centers was not statistically significant (p=0.192). The following items had the most impact on personnel decision: confidence about one’s immune system (p<0.05), the experience of side effects from previous vaccinations (p=0.011), attitude about vaccination in colleagues (p=0.021) and work experience (p<0.05). About 23% of vaccinated individuals reported side effects following vaccination and the most common side effect was mild cold symptoms with 12.3% prevalence. Conclusion. The results of the current study revealed that influenza vaccination coverage among HCWs is not satisfactory in Iran. Hospital authorities and infection control units should plan to remove the obstacles of influenza vaccination

A social work study on measuring adherence to religious values

This study aims to investigate the effects of demographic characteristics, including gender, marital status, level of education and age on adherence to religious values among young people in city of Shahin Dezh and Takab, located in province of West Azerbaijan, Iran in 2014. The study has accomplished between two groups of Turk and Kurd with the population of 85,000 and 89,000, respectively. The study uses a sample of 20 and 30 people from Turkish and Kurdish tribes, respectively, and uses t-student test as well as regression analysis to examine different hypotheses of the survey. The results show that there was a meaningful difference among various variables of gender, marital status, education level and age in adherence to religious values among the youth who live in this city

In Vitro Biocontrol of Escherichia coli Through the Immobilization of its Specific Lytic Bacteriophage on Cellulose Acetate Biodegradable Film

Background and Aims: Bacteriophages are mandatory bacterial parasites that are harmless to human and animal, which are used by dipping or spraying in food as natural antimicrobial agents. The use of these methods leads to wasting or trapping of phage in food, but its immobilization on the polymer surface facilitates the contact of phage with the host cell at the food surface. Therefore, the aim of this study was to immobilize the lytic phage of Escherichia coli on the cellulose acetate film and investigate of its antimicrobial effect. Materials and Methods: Escherichia.coli bacteria was incubated at 37°C for 24 hours, and the antimicrobial effect of phages was evaluated through plaque forming. The cellulose acetate film was prepared by casting, then modificated by plasma, and immersed in a suspension of phage (1010 PFU/ml) and incubated at 37 °C for 24 hours with slow shaking, then the number of immobilized phages was estimated. To confirm the immobilization, FESEM was done. The antimicrobial effect of the active film was evaluated by disk diffusion and the release rate and antimicrobial activity of immobilized phages were investigated in 14 days. Results: Phages formed clear plaques against E.coli. Modification of film by plasma resulted in uniform immobilization (108 PFU/ml) that FESEM revealed it. The active film (with zone diameter 12 mm) showed stronger antimicrobial effect than the antibiotic ampicillin (positive control sample with zone diameter 8 mm). 11 days after the immobilization, the number of immobilized phages decreased from 108 to 106 (PFU/ml) and released from the film surface, afterwards did not release. The antimicrobial activity of active film was decreased due to the absence of host bacteria continuously in 15 days, so that the host bacteria population increased from 3 to 5.3 LOG CFU/ml.  Conclusions: In spite of reducing the antimicrobial activity of cellulose acetate active film over the time, due to the presence of host bacteria at food surface and its high potential in destroying the host bacteria, it can be used to increase of food safety in food packaging