Background: The current Coronavirus pandemic has infected more than 15 million people worldwide and has been responsible for more than 630,000 deaths worldwide, a significant number of which has been healthcare professionals. Povidone-iodine (PVP-I) has been known as microbicidal agent since the past few decades and it has also demonstrated better anti-viral activity than other antiseptics in a few in vitro studies against other coronaviruses (SARS-CoV and MERSCoV). Povidone iodine has also been found to be a safe and effective solution to be used as a gargle or intranasally. Aim and Objectives: Through our study, we would like to propose the application of PVP-I in appropriate and safe concentration through nasal application and oropharyngeal wash to limit the spread of the virus from infected patients to healthcare workers and thus reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Methods: This application is to be done according to the proposed protocol, which has been devised keeping in mind the feasibility, safety and efficacy of PVP-I application. This should be used regularly by patients with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection to not only prevent the spread, but also by healthcare workers prior to treating such patients, or performing perioral or nasal procedures during the pandemic, regardless of the status of the patient. Patients undergoing such procedures should also be treated with PVP-I. The total iodine exposure according to the proposed protocol has been found to be within previously recorded safe limits. Conclusion: We hypothesize that usage of PVP-I as a personal protective equipment at the portal of entry would help decrease the rates of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Background and Aims: Police personnel have been key frontline workers throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. This study was conducted to assess the correlates and outcomes of critically ill police personnel.Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzed key parameters of hospitalized police personnel who were critically ill with COVID-19 in Andhra Pradesh, India, between June and October 2020. Survival was analyzed for correlation with body mass index, ABO/Rh blood group, co-morbidities, treatment (oxygen therapy, prone positioning, mechanical ventilation, remdesivir, Ivermectin, oral and nasal topical povidoneiodine). We also performed Cox proportional hazard analysis with relevant function plots.Results: The majority of the 266 patients were male (n = 259; 97.4%) and obese (75.2%). The overall mortality of patients was 38% (n = 101). COVID-19 mortality increased significantly with age (p = 0.019) and BMI (p = 0.030) in the bivariate analysis. There was no significant difference between blood group (p = 0.297), comorbidity (p = 0.582) and COVID-19 outcome. Multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the risk factors for COVID-19 mortality were males (HR 4.89, 95% CI: 1.020-23.430) and ventilator therapy (HR 7.5, 95% CI: 4.527-12.296). The protective factors were symptom onset to reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) report interval (HR 0.36, 95% CI: 0.158-0.814), prone positioning (HR 0.43, 95% CI: 0.197-0.915), and use of povidone iodine (HR 0.43; 95% CI: 0.273-0.692).Conclusion: COVID-19 mortality among critically ill hospitalized police personnel was reduced by time to diagnostic test result, prone positioning, and povidone-iodine use and increased with male gender and mechanical ventilation.
Background: Incidence of breast cancer in India is on raise and shows a 3-4 fold variation across the country. Materials and methods: In this retrospective study, a total of n = 181 histopathologically confirmed breast cancer cases who visited the tertiary Government hospitals during the period March 2016 to March 2017 were studied. Results: Majority of the patients (n = 108) are of the age group 40 to 59 years. Most of the women (n = 112, 61.9%) belong to the Socioeconomic class of Backward caste. Right breast is the common site of occurrence of breast cancer. Histological Grade II (n = 95, 59.0%) is highly predominant. Invasive carcinoma of no special type (NST), is the most common histological type of breast tumor in 173 (95.6%) patients. Clinical stages of T2 (n = 76, 42%), N1 (n = 68, 37.6%) and M0 (n = 163, 90.1%) were the most common stages. Triple negative breast cancer was noticed in (n = 24, 28.9%) out of 83 patients analysed. Modified radical mastectomy (n = 134, 74.0%) is the common surgical procedure followed in treating breast cancer. The total claim amount paid ranged from Rs. 10000 to 49999/-(US$ 154.98-US $ 774.88) with the Mean cost incurred being Rs. 48,477/-(± Rs. 29,082 SD) which equals to US$ 748.97. Conclusion: Majority of the patients are diagnosed at a later stage due to lack of awareness and access to preventive diagnostic services. Region specific research and planning evidence based preventive programs is the need of the hour.
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