Journal of Health Reports and Technology
Volume:8 Issue: 3, Jul 2022

 Although the current literature suggests the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on nosocomial infections, evidence is still scarce in this regard.

The present study aimed to systematically review the current literature to estimate the prevalence of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) and their determinants during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A comprehensive search was conducted via electronic databases such as EMBASE, Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic until the end of June 2021. To estimate the pooled prevalence of nosocomial infections, the random effects model was used.

The prevalence of HAIs during the COVID-19 pandemic was estimated at 15% (95% CI: 9 - 24). COVID-19 infection accounted for the highest infection rate in patients with HAIs (63%; 95% CI: 43 - 75), followed by bloodstream infections (39%; 95% CI: 56 - 24). Among the common organisms that infected patients with HAIs, coronavirus had the highest rate (63%; 95% CI: 43 - 75), followed by Enterococci and Enterococcus, respectively. In addition, positive significant correlations were observed between the prevalence of nosocomial infections, age, and length of hospital stay (P < 0.05).

According to the results, nosocomial infections are an important consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly in the elderly and high-risk populations with prolonged hospital stay. Therefore, the early detection of infected individuals could be a key step toward improving the quality of response to the current pandemic.

One of the most important income sources of hospitals is the payment of insurance organizations, part of which is not paid as deductions in Iran. Studies have reported different values for insurance deductions, proposing various reasons.

The present study aimed to provide the published evidence of these deductions and their causes over the past 13 years. Data Sources: This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in 2021. Data were collected via searching in databases such as Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, SID, Magiran, and Irandoc until August 2021 using keywords such as “deduction”, “medical deduction”, “hospital”, “medical center”, and “Iran”. Data Extraction: To calculate the pooled values of hospital deductions, a random-effects meta-analysis was performed in the Stata software version 15 at 95% confidence interval. In addition, the possible heterogeneity of the studies was evaluated using the I2 statistic, and a forest plot was also used to report the results. Publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot.

In total, 16 articles were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled percentage of deductions (PPCD) based on random effects was 5% (95% CI: 2.88 - 7.124), and the hypothesis was rejected (PPCD = 0; Z = 31.26; P = 0.000). Based on the random-effects method, the pooled prevalence of deductions was 45.21% (95% CI: 17.601 - 72.824). Moreover, the pooled prevalence of deductions (PPVD) was considered statistically significant (PPVD = 0; Z = 251.16; P = 0.000). The variation in ES attributable to heterogeneity (I2) was estimated at 99.6%, and documentation problems were considered the most common cause of deductions (17.96%).

According to the results, the prevalence of deductions in Iranian public hospitals is significant, and the share of deductions from the bill claimed by the hospital is manageable, albeit small.

Immature behaviors, including impulsivity and lack of control lead to personal and social pathologies, such as addiction.

This meta-analysis study aimed to evaluate the effect of impulsivity on addition and addictive tendencies. This comprehensive interdisciplinary quantitative meta-analysis integrated the research findings regarding the effect of impulsivity on addiction and addictive tendencies based on secondary data. A checklist was developed for collecting data based on the article title, author specifications, publication year, setting, research type, hypothesis, data collection instrument, statistical population, sample size, significance level, and probability value to avoid bias in the study selection protocol.

The results of studies were divided into nine databases to calculate the effect size, and finally, 11 studies were analyzed. The descriptive data analysis and effect size calculation were performed in the Comprehensive Meta-Analysis Software (CMA) version 2.0. Based on the fixed-effects model, 0.153 of the studies contributed significantly to the actual fixed effect sizes. The difference in effect sizes was due to sampling error. The random-effects model (0.202) suggested the independence of the studies (P < 0.001) with moderate robustness.

According to the results, the behavioral construct of impulsivity significantly and positively affected addictive behaviors and tendencies. Therefore, the mediating effect of impulsivity, promote resilience, and train protective strategies for individuals prone to addiction should be controlled to improve mental health quality and develop social, communication, and life skills.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) refers to fat accumulation in hepatic cells due to alcohol consumption, hepatitis, and drugs. The prevalence of this disease has been reported at 20-50% in western and 12 - 13% in Latin countries. Patients who suffer from obesity, diabetes, and insulin resistance may be affected more than others. This disease is symptomless, and its paraclinical diagnosis is achievable by increasing the hepatic enzymes. Ultrasonography and fibroscan are some of the common diagnostic methods for this disease. The first treatment for this disease is weight loss and physical activities. Vitamin E can improve histopathological changes in terms of medications. While pioglitazone is an effective blood sugar-lowering drug, metformin has no role in treating diabetes or prediabetes.

Gestational diabetes is the most prevalent metabolic disorder during pregnancy. Therefore, it is essential to recognize its outcomes and complications.

The present study aimed to compare pregnancy outcomes in diabetic and healthy women.

This case-control study was conducted on 380 diabetic and healthy women, who were divided into two groups of 190, at Moatazedi Hospital in Kermanshah, Iran in 2019. The participants were selected via convenience sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-made checklist designed based on the family records of the participants. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 22 using chi-square, Fisher’s exact test, and the Mann-Whitney U test.

A significant correlation was observed between gestational age, maternal body mass index, birth weight, infant’s height, mode of delivery (P < 0.01), preeclampsia (P = 0.01), and the family history of diabetes (P = 0.03) in the diabetic and healthy pregnant women. However, no significant correlation was denoted between the five- and 10-minute Apgar scores, maternal disorders, and maternal care during pregnancy.

According to the results, gestational diabetes is associated with an increase rate of complications, which must be diminished through prevention and disease control to promote maternal and neonatal health.

Smoke-free eating places are effective in reducing exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS). Eateries should comply with implementing smoke-free eating-places under the Control of Tobacco Products Regulations 2018 in all open-air eating-places to reduce tobacco consumption to achieve the plan of having Malaysia free of tobacco by 2045.

To determine the impact of perceived knowledge on tobacco control law and SHS and attitude to support and practice smoke-free eating-places.

A total of 620 respondents participated in this cross-sectional study. The eating-places were selected randomly from 5 administrative divisions of Sarawak. Data on perceived tobacco control law, knowledge of the effects of SHS on health and environment, attitude and support towards smoke-free eating-places, and current smoke-free eating-places were collected by face-to-face interview using a structured questionnaire. A partial least squares model was developed to examine the impact of knowledge, attitude, and support towards the smoke-free eating-places with the current practice of smoke-free eating-places. WarpPLS version 7.0 was used to examine the structural path and to test the hypothesis.

The structural path analysis revealed that perceived knowledge of tobacco control law had no impact on practicing smoke-free eating-places (P > 0.05). However, the knowledge of the health and environmental effects of SHS had direct and indirect effects on attitude and support for smoke-free eating-places (P < 0.001). In addition, attitude towards smoke-free eating-places had a significant mediating effect on practicing smoke-free eating-places (P < 0.001). Besides that, supporting smoke-free eating-places had a significant direct impact on the practice of smoke-free eating-places (P < 0.001).

Legislation and implementation of smoke-free eating-places along with the antismoking program and education efforts could support the cessation of tobacco use in all public places, including all eateries.

Lighting affects humans in many ways, including intelligence, body temperature, and sleep patterns. This study aimed to evaluate lighting satisfaction, mental task load, visual fatigue, and sleep quality in students. The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 students of Saveh Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Iran, in 2020. The data of their levels of lighting satisfaction, mental task level, visual fatigue, and sleep quality were collected using standard questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS Software version 21. The quantitative variables were reported in mean and standard deviation and qualitative variables in frequency and percentage. A chi-square test was used to compare qualitative variables. In addition, the independent t-test was applied to compare the sleepiness score according to the relevant variables and the Pearson correlation test was utilized to investigate the relationship between sleepiness and sleep quality scores. The significance level was less than 0.05 for all statistical tests. The results indicated that the students’ satisfaction scores with current lighting were indifference. Visual fatigue was low, and sleepiness was mild. The students' subjective task load and sleep quality were moderate and low. There was a significant inverse relationship between visual fatigue and lighting satisfaction (P < 0.001). In addition, visual fatigue and task load had a significant direct relationship (P < 0.001). The average number of hours of sleep per night was 6.72 hours for students, which was less than the normal recommended amount. The average sleep quality was 11.06, which was low in the population. According to the results, the students’ mental task load and sleep quality were medium and low. It seems necessary to pause and rest between training, increase the variety of educational activities, appropriate training, and lighting intervention.

The multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen Candida auris has been associated with healthcare. We need to address COVID-19 pandemic as well as the ongoing global fungal epidemic caused by C. auris, a multi-drug-resistant fungus spreading rapidly throughout the world. This study was conducted on patients admitted to an ICU in Isfahan, Iran, from November 2020 to February 2021 to determine the spectrum of C. auris colonization in immunocompromised patients hospitalized in an intensive care unit (ICU). Therefore, clinical swabs were collected from 32 immunocompromised patients for C. auris detection upon ICU admission after 7 to 14 days. A rich culture medium was used to evaluate C. auris growth at a higher temperature (40°C) and salinity (10% wt/vol) in Sabouraud dextrose agar, which can be used in combination with a C. auris-specific polymerase chain reaction method. C. auris was not isolated in the clinical samples of patients. The most common colonizer was Candida albicans, followed by C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis. Candida glabrata was the only species with noticeable growth in the Salt SDA, with D-Mannitol as a carbon source. Currently, C. auris is not a common cause of systemic or superficial fungal infections in Iran. The screening of patients admitted to the ICU for C. auris could aid in the identification of colonized patients and could simplify the application of infection control measures.