Diverse risk factors intercede the outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We conducted this retrospective cohort study with a cohort of 1016 COVID-19 patients diagnosed in May 2020 to identify the risk factors associated with morbidity and mortality outcomes. Data were collected by telephone-interview and reviewing records using a questionnaire and checklist. The study identified morbidity and mortality risk factors on the 28th day of the disease course. The majority of the patients were male (64.1%) and belonged to the age group 25–39 years (39.4%). Urban patients were higher in proportion than rural (69.3% vs. 30.7%). Major comorbidities included 35.0% diabetes mellitus (DM), 28.4% hypertension (HTN), 16.6% chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and 7.8% coronary heart disease (CHD). The morbidity rate (not-cured) was 6.0%, and the mortality rate (non-survivor) was 2.5%. Morbidity risk factors included elderly (AOR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.31–4.99), having comorbidity (AOR = 1.43, 95% CI = 0.83–2.47), and smokeless tobacco use (AOR = 2.17, 95% CI = 0.84–5.61). The morbidity risk was higher with COPD (RR = 2.68), chronic kidney disease (CKD) (RR = 3.33) and chronic liver disease (CLD) (RR = 3.99). Mortality risk factors included elderly (AOR = 7.56, 95% CI = 3.19–17.92), having comorbidity (AOR = 5.27, 95% CI = 1.88–14.79) and SLT use (AOR = 1.93, 95% CI = 0.50–7.46). The mortality risk was higher with COPD (RR = 7.30), DM (RR = 2.63), CHD (RR = 4.65), HTN (RR = 3.38), CKD (RR = 9.03), CLD (RR = 10.52) and malignant diseases (RR = 9.73). We must espouse programme interventions considering the morbidity and mortality risk factors to condense the aggressive outcomes of COVID-19.

Background: Food-borne disease is a major public health problem affecting developed as well as developing countries. Inaccurately treated eggs can be one of its causes. So we designed this study to observe the possibility of transmission of pathogenic Gram-positive bacteria from market eggs to the community.Objectives: To identify different Gram-positive bacteria in eggs and to observe their antimicrobial susceptibility.Materials and Methods: This observational study was conducted in the department of Microbiology, Dhaka Medical College, Dhaka. Shells of 150 eggs collected from different markets of Dhaka city were tested. Bacteria were isolated and identified by culture and relevant biochemical tests.Results: Out of 150 egg shells, 120 (80%) yielded growth of different bacteria. Of them, Staphylococcus spp. were 80 (66.67%), Streptococcus spp. 8 (6.67%), Bacillus subtilis 20 (16.67%) and Bacillus cereus 12 (10%). Out of 80 Staphylococcus spp., 30 (25%) were Staphylococcus aureus and 50 (41.67%) were Staphylococcus saprophyticus. Most of the Gram-positive bacteria were sensitive to ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone and imipenem. No MRSA and VRSA were found.Conclusion: It can be concluded from this study that Gram-positive bacteria from market eggs may be an important source of infection to the community.J Enam Med Col 2016; 6(1): 15-18

Background: Wound infections are global problem in the field of surgery associated with long hospital stay, higher treatment expenditure, morbidity and mortality. Objective: To isolate and identify the bacteria causing wound infection and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern. Methods: This retrospective study was conducted in the Department of Microbiology at Shaheed Suhrawady Medical College, Dhaka from January 2017 to December 2017 for a period of one (01) year. A total of 190 wound swabs were collected from the patients who were visited in outpatient department and were admitted at inpatient department with skin and soft tissue infection. Swabs from the wound were inoculated on appropriate media and cultured and the isolates were identified by standard procedures as needed. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done by disc diffusion method according to ‘The Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute’ guidelines. Results: In this study, out of 190 cases 115 (60.52%) were male and 75 (39.47%) were female and majority 85(44.73%) were in the age group of 16 to 30 years. A total number of 190 isolates were obtained, among which 124 (65.25%) were culture positive cases. Among the isolated organisms predominant bacteria was Staphylococcus aureus 68 (35.79%) followed by Escherichia coli 30 (15.79%), Pseudomonas 14 (7.37%), Klebsiella 6 (3.16%), Proteus 4 (2.10%) and Acinetobacter 2 (1.05%). Staphylococcus aureus was sensitive to linezolid (94.11%), vancomycin (88.23%) and amikacin (70.58%). Among the Gram negative isolates Escherichia coli was predominant and showed sensitivity to imipenem (80%), amikacin (70%), ceftazidime (60%), piperacillin+ tazobactum (56.66%), colistin (53.33%). Pseudomonas showed sensitivity to colistin (78.57%), imipenem (71.42%). Klebsiella showed sensitivity to imipenem (83.33%), amikacin (66.66%), piperacillin+ tazobactum (66.66%), and colistin(66.66%). Conclusion: Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequently isolated pathogen from wound swab and the antibiotic sensitivity pattern of various isolates will guide for appropriate selection of antibiotics against wound infection, so as to reduce the spread of resistant bacteria. J Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll, June 2019, Vol.11(1); 65-68

Nipah virus, a member of the genus Henipavirus, a new class of virus in the Paramyxoviridae

As one of the least developed countries of South Asia, Bangladesh continues experiencing a surge in the number of patients with dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), while struggling with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The number of infected patients and deaths due to COVID-19 had risen rapidly since the beginning of July 2021 and broken all the previous records. The total number of dengue cases was also the highest in July. Now, the country is facing an unprecedented challenge of tackling a co-epidemic. Impoverished health infrastructure, ineffective intervention schemes against the disease and lack of awareness has made the country vulnerable to a risk of co-epidemic. Therefore, government and local authorities should take immediate actions, including capacity-building programs for both COVID-19 and dengue, while community engagement campaigns focusing on the destruction of breeding sources of Aedes mosquitoes can play a key role in reducing the effect of dengue at an early stage.