Effect of COVID‐19 on healthcare workers' morbidity and mortality compared to the general population in Kohgiluyeh and Boyer‐Ahmad Province, Iran

Abstract During the Covid‐19 pandemic, the adverse effects of recent coronaviruses on healthcare professionals cannot be ignored. This study compared the admission rates due to Covid‐19 and characteristics of hospitalized healthcare workers with the general population of Kohgiluyeh and Boyer‐Ahmad (K.B) province. 18546 hospitalized patients infected with Covid‐19 in hospitals in four cities of K.B province were enrolled in this study; of them, 236 (1.27%) patients were healthcare workers. Demographic and clinical data of hospitalized cases due to Covid‐19 infection were collected from August 2020 to September 2021. The underlying diseases were also considered in this study. According to our findings, 55.5% of the hospitalized healthcare workers were male, and 44.5% were female; their mean age was 41.41 years. However, in the general population, hospitalization rates were higher for women than for men (51.2% and 48.8%, respectively). Although the SARS‐CoV‐2 infectivity rate was higher in healthcare workers compared to the general population (68.6% vs. 56.1%), the mortality rate was significantly lower in them (1.7% vs. 3.8%). Fever, cough, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, headache, and myalgia were the most prevalent symptoms in both groups. Among the cases examined in this study, inpatient ones aged 30–40 years and the general population aged over 60 seemed to be more likely to be hospitalized for Covid‐19. The hospitalization rate of healthcare workers during the pandemic follows the same pattern as the general population, but since the start of vaccination, this rate has decreased among healthcare workers compared to the general population of KB province

Comparison of HCV viral load and its genotype distributions in HCV mono- and HIV/HCV co-infected illicit drug users

Abstract Background Because of shared modes of transmission, patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are often co-infected with other types of hepatitis viruses and/or HIV. We studied HCV viral load and its genotype patterns among HCV mono- and HCV/HIV co-infected Illicit Drug Users in Fars province-Iran. Methods Totally, 580 HCV seropositive IDUs referred to Prof. Alborzi Clinical Microbiology Research Center, Shiraz, Iran, without receiving any anti-HCV treatment, were enrolled. After their HCV infections were reconfirmed by one step rapid diagnostic test, HCV RNA level and HCV genotypes were determined by Taq-man real-time PCR assays. Their HIV serostatus was determined and seropositive patients were excluded from the group. In addition, 104 HIV/HCV co-infected IDUs referred from Shiraz Behavioral Diseases Consultation Center (SBDC) were assessed for HCV RNA level and HCV genotype patterns, as well. Results The overall estimated HIV prevalence was 6.7% (39/580) among HCV seropositive IDUs. Genotype 1, the most prevalent genotype in both groups, was detected in 69% and 49% of co- and mono-infected IDUs, respectively. Median HCV viral load was significantly higher in HIV/HCV co-infected patients, compared with that among HCV mono-infected counterparts. Conclusions Given the higher baseline HCV viral load and GT1 attributed to poorer treatments response, HCV treatment must be more considered among HCV/HIV co-infected IDUs, compared to those mono-infected with HCV

Assessment of HCV Infection in Suspected Orphans Newborns by Real-Time PCR and HCV-Core Ag-Elisa

Background & Objective: HCV infection may be transmitted from an infected mother to her fetus in a low percentage; however, it is the most important route of infancy HCV infection. The chance of HCV transmission in HIV/HCV co-infected mothers is higher than that in HCV mono-infected ones. The aim of this study is to assess HCV infection status in orphan newborns in Shiraz, Iran by quantitative PCR assay and HCV core-Ag Elisa.Materials & Methods:  Twenty nine HCV suspected infants, 2-7 months old, were evaluated for HCV and HIV antibodies, HCV core antigen and quantitative genome viral load.Results: Although HCV-Ab was detected in all the studied infants, HCV-RNA was not detected in plasma or Peripheral Blood Mono-Nuclear Cells (PBMCs). HIV 1, 2 Abs were not detected in none of them, either. Conclusion: A few studies have been conducted on the HCV transmission from infected mothers to their infants. According to the present results, assessment of HCV viral load and HCV core-Ag can serve as reliable tests for the prediction or exclusion of HCV infection from mothers to infants

The rates and symptoms of natural and breakthrough infection pre- and post- Covid-19 non-mRNA vaccination at various peaks amongst Iranian healthcare workers

Abstract Background/Aims The aim of this study was to determine the rate of natural and breakthrough infection and related symptoms of Covid-19 amongst Iranian healthcare workers (HCWs) who were vaccinated by different non-mRNA-based vaccines at peak points. Methods In this cross-sectional study, the RT-PCR test was performed for a total of 10,581 HCWs suspicious of Covid-19 infection. For each HCW, the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the time of transmission based on vaccination administration time and schedule were examined during different waves of the pandemic. Based on these findings, the study patients were divided into three groups: natural, natural/breakthrough, and breakthrough. Results In total, 53% of the HCWs were exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection between 1 and 5 times within two years after the current pandemic, while 20.7% and 32.3% experienced natural and breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection, respectively. Only 6% of the breakthrough-infected HCWs had naturally contracted SARS-CoV-2 infection during the initial waves. The highest natural peaks of infection occurred during the interval administration of the first and second dose of the first vaccination series, while the single highest peak of breakthrough infection belonged to the Omicron wave. It occurred simultaneously with the administration of the third vaccination dose. On the other hand, the highest rate of reinfection was observed amongst people who had received the Sinopharm and Bharat vaccines full-doses. Conclusion This study compared the clinical differences between the two peaks of Omicron and Delta. This study indicates the rates of natural and breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections according to vaccination schedules and different waves of the pandemic

Seroprevalence of viral hepatitis A, B, C, D and E viruses in the Hormozgan province southern Iran

Abstract Background Viral hepatitis is a global public health problem affecting millions of people worldwide, causing thousands of deaths due to acute and persistent infection, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Providing updated serologic data can improve both surveillance and disease control programs. This study is aimed to determine the seroprevalence of markers for viral hepatitis (A, B, C, D and E) and the epidemiology of such infections in the general population of southern Iran’s Hormozgan province. Methods Between 2016 and 2017, a total of 562 individuals with ages ranging from 1 to 86 years, who visited governmental public laboratories for routine check-ups, were tested for the presence of serological markers to hepatitis virus types A to E using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results The overall anti-hepatitis A virus (HAV) antibody seroprevalence was 93.2% (524/562). The prevalence of anti-hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibodies was 15.8% (89/562) among which 1.6% (9/562) of the seropositive individuals also had evidence of recent exposure to the virus (IgM positivity). Two and a half percent (14/562) were positive for hepatitis B surface (HBs) antigen, whereas 11.6% (65/562) tested positive for anti-hepatitis B core (HBc) antibodies. Among anti-HBc positive patients, 11% (7/65) had HBs Ag and 5% (3/65) were positive for anti-hepatitis D virus (HDV) antibodies. The prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies was 0.7% (4/562). The seroprevalence of anti-HAV, HEV IgG, anti-HBc antibodies, and HBs Ag increased with age. Conclusion The present study confirms a high seroprevalence of HAV infection among the examined population and reveals high levels of endemicity for HEV in the region. Planned vaccination policies against HAV should be considered in all parts of Iran. In addition, improvements on public sanitation and hygiene management of drinking water sources for the studied area are recommended

Widespread circulation of West Nile virus, but not Zika virus in southern Iran.

West Nile virus (WNV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) are mosquito-borne viral infections. Over the past few decades, WNV has been associated with several outbreaks involving high numbers of neuroinvasive diseases among humans. The recent re-emergence of ZIKV has been associated with congenital malformation and also with Guillain-Barre syndrome in adults. The geographic range of arthropod-borne viruses has been rapidly increasing in recent years. The objectives of this study were to determine the presence of IgG specific antibodies and the genome of WNV and ZIKV in human samples, as well as WNV and ZIKV genomes in wild-caught mosquitoes in urban and rural areas of the Hormozgan province, in southern Iran. A total of 494 serum samples were tested for the presence of WNV and ZIKV IgG antibodies using ELISA assays. One hundred and two (20.6%) samples were reactive for WNV IgG antibodies. All serum samples were negative for ZIKV IgG antibodies. Using the multivariable logistic analysis, age (45+ vs. 1-25; OR = 3.4, 95% C.I.: 1.8-6.3), occupation (mostly outdoor vs. mostly indoor; OR = 2.4, 95% C.I.: 1.1-5.2), and skin type(type I/II vs. type III/IV and type V/VI; OR = 4.3, 95% C.I.: 1.7-10.8 and OR = 2.7, 95% C.I.: 1.3-5.5 respectively, skin types based on Fitzpatrick scale) showed significant association with WNV seroreactivity. We collected 2,015 mosquitoes in 136 pools belonging to 5 genera and 14 species. Three pools of Culex pipiens complex were positive for WNV RNA using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rtRT-PCR). ZIKV RNA was not detected in any of the pools. All WNV ELISA reactive serum samples were negative for WNV RNA. In conclusion, we provided evidence of the establishment of WNV in southern Iran and no proof of ZIKV in serum samples or in mosquito vectors. The establishment of an organized arbovirus surveillance system and active case finding strategies seems to be necessary