Filter options

Publication Date
From
to
Subjects
Journals
Article Types
Countries / Territories
Open Access June 19, 2025

Current Status of Legionnaires' Disease and Environmental Factors in Japan

Abstract Legionnaires' disease became widely known following an outbreak of pneumonia in the United States in 1976. It is often caused by infection from artificial water sources such as cooling towers, water supply and heating systems, and recirculating hot tubs. To effectively implement infection prevention measures for Legionnaires' disease, collaboration among healthcare workers, water supply and [...] Read more.
Legionnaires' disease became widely known following an outbreak of pneumonia in the United States in 1976. It is often caused by infection from artificial water sources such as cooling towers, water supply and heating systems, and recirculating hot tubs. To effectively implement infection prevention measures for Legionnaires' disease, collaboration among healthcare workers, water supply and heating system managers, building hygiene personnel, and other relevant parties is essential. It is important to note that outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease continue to occur frequently both domestically and internationally. While the number of reported cases of Legionnaires' disease in Japan has increased, the mortality rate has decreased but has stabilized at a lower level. Caution is also required as reports have been made in association with disasters and travel, in addition to artificial environmental water.
Figures
PreviousNext
Review Article
Open Access October 16, 2023

Clinical Characteristics and Imaging Findings of Adult COVID-19 and Influenza-related Pulmonary Complications due to Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract The pulmonary characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) co-infection with respiratory viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus, are still unclear. Case series: Two patients with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus [...] Read more.
The pulmonary characteristics of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) co-infection with respiratory viruses, such as SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus, are still unclear. Case series: Two patients with methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) infection in the lungs co-infected with either SARS-CoV-2 or influenza virus are reported. Case 1 was a 66-year-old woman who was admitted with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Her chest X-ray and computed tomography (CT) showed multiple cavity formations with infiltration shadows, and MSSA was detected from her sputum and blood, suggesting COVID-19-related bacterial pneumonia and pulmonary embolism. No catheters had been used, but she had skin eruptions and a history of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Ampicillin/sulbactam (ABPC/SBT) was administered, and she finally improved. Case 2 was an 87-year-old man with a history of atopic dermatitis who was admitted with moderate pneumonia, and influenza virus co-infection was found. He showed multiple cavitary shadows, and MSSA was isolated from both his sputum and blood. He was diagnosed with influenza-related bacterial pulmonary embolism. No catheters had been used, but he had a history of influenza vaccination. He was also treated by ABPC/SBT and finally improved. Conclusions: These cases suggest that MSSA showed affinity to the lungs when co-infected with either SARS-CoV-2 or influenza virus, and it presented as septic emboli without catheter use. We should consider MSSA infection when patients have SARS-CoV-2 or influenza virus co-infection, and multiple cavity formation and skin disorders are seen, even though they were vaccinated and no catheters were used.
Figures
PreviousNext
Case Series
Open Access August 24, 2022

Epidemiological and Clinical Profile of Deaths due to COVID-19 among Hospitalized Patients in Sidama Region, Ethiopia

Abstract Novel corona virus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which started in China's Hubei province in 2019, has caused a significant loss of human lives globally. This study describes the epidemiologic and clinical profiles of COVID-19 related deaths among patients admitted to treatment centers in Sidama region, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study of 186 in hospital COVID-19 related deaths that occurred from [...] Read more.
Novel corona virus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, which started in China's Hubei province in 2019, has caused a significant loss of human lives globally. This study describes the epidemiologic and clinical profiles of COVID-19 related deaths among patients admitted to treatment centers in Sidama region, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study of 186 in hospital COVID-19 related deaths that occurred from July 2020 to December 2021 in Sidama region were analyzed. Data was extracted from regional emergency operation center death report. Data was entered using Epidata v3.1 and analysis was done using SPSS v.20. Categorical data was summarized using frequency and percentage while continuous data was summarized using median and interquartile range. Association between variables was assessed using chi-square test. More than two-third of the deceased patients were male (135; 72.6%) and median age at death was 60. The majority of deaths (151; 81.1%) occurred in 2021, while April 2021 had the highest death records. Cough and shortness of breath were the main presenting symptoms occurring in 89.2% and 85.5% of deceased patients respectively. Most of the COVID-19 related deaths (64.5%) had associated comorbidities. Diabetes (50%) and Hypertension (39.2%) were the most prevalent comorbidities. Significant proportion of patients (74.73%) presented on severe end of disease spectrum (critical/ severe). Of the deceased patients, around two-third required Intensive care unit (ICU) admission and 111 of them were put on mechanical ventilator. Moreover, the median ICU stay was 4 days. Around half of the death (48.4%) occurred in the first 5 days. The median survival time from symptom onset was 11.5 days with most (43.5%) of the deaths occurring within the first 14 days of symptom onset. Age category was significantly associated with the number of days from onset to death (p=0.006). The case fatality rate was 1.87% which is lower than national and global reports. Unlike previous studies, the prevalence of asthma among deceased patients was low and there were no patients with documented COPD.
Figures
PreviousNext
Article
Open Access August 21, 2021

Global Analysis of Potential COVID 19 Transmission and Enabling Factors

Abstract Background: Coronavirus disease has caused global turmoil especially causing huge impact on human life all over the world. Current reports states more than 3 million people have lost life and more than 160 million people are known to be suspected with the SARS-CoV-2. Transmission and disease incidence rates are indicators to assess the seriousness of COVID-19 pandemic and studies to understand the factors that aid in this direction are very vital to curb the disease. Methods: The study intends to discover the relationship by performing statistical analysis using correlation and multiple linear regression analysis between the variable’s population density, temperature, relative humidity, and active time of virus and find out the parameters that predict the cases reported per million population in 83 countries. Results: Analysis indicates active time of virus in days is very positively associated with the COVID -19 cases in all the countries r = .604, p < .01. Active time of virus shows strong negative correlation with temperature r = -.930, p [...] Read more.
Background: Coronavirus disease has caused global turmoil especially causing huge impact on human life all over the world. Current reports states more than 3 million people have lost life and more than 160 million people are known to be suspected with the SARS-CoV-2. Transmission and disease incidence rates are indicators to assess the seriousness of COVID-19 pandemic and studies to understand the factors that aid in this direction are very vital to curb the disease. Methods: The study intends to discover the relationship by performing statistical analysis using correlation and multiple linear regression analysis between the variable’s population density, temperature, relative humidity, and active time of virus and find out the parameters that predict the cases reported per million population in 83 countries. Results: Analysis indicates active time of virus in days is very positively associated with the COVID -19 cases in all the countries r = .604, p < .01. Active time of virus shows strong negative correlation with temperature r = -.930, p < .01 revealing that rise in temperature will reduce the virus activity in the population. Together, these variables will account for 36.2% variance in the cases per million population with no significant prediction estimated from any factor. Conclusion: The study outcomes clearly state that population density alone is insufficient to estimate the extent of influence on COVID -19 cases as the number of persons living per sq. km of land is a dynamic quantity tend to fluctuate over time and space due to migration of population. In conjunction to the previous studies reported on the environmental and climatic factors influencing the cases reported, population dynamics does not show much significance on the disease spread and incidence. Contribution: The rise in confirmed cases and the high incidence rate reported in countries can be attributed to the active time of virus life expectancy as there is a positive correlation observed between the COVID-19 cases reported and the virus active time in the examined countries. Also, environment and climatic factors play a role in modulating the infection and transmission rate with less significant influence of population density on the COVID-19.
Figures
PreviousNext
Article

Query parameters

Keyword:  Epidemiology

View options

Citations of

Views of

Downloads of