Zero health-care-associated respiratory viral infections among solid organ transplant recipients: Infection prevention outcomes during COVID-19 pandemic

Not only COVID-19: a systematic review of anti-COVID-19 measures and their effect on healthcare-associated infections

BACKGROUND

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) burden healthcare globally. Amid the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, intensified infection control measures, such as mask usage and hand hygiene, were implemented.

AIM

To assess the efficacy of these measures in preventing HAIs among hospitalized patients.

METHODS

Using the PICO framework (Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome), the study focused on hospitalized patients and the effectiveness of anti-COVID-19 measures in preventing HAIs. A systematic review of literature published in 2020-2022 was conducted, examining interventions such as mask usage, hand hygiene, and environmental cleaning.

FINDINGS

This systematic review analysed 42 studies: two in 2020, 21 in 2021, and 19 in 2022. Most studies were from high-income countries (28). Most studies (30 out of 42) reported a reduction in HAIs after implementing anti-COVID-19 measures. Gastrointestinal infections and respiratory tract infections showed significant reduction, unlike bloodstream infections and urinary tract infections. Some wards, like cardiology and neurology, experienced reduced HAIs, unlike intensive care units and coronary care units. There was an increase in studies reporting no effect of hygiene measures on HAIs in 2022, eventually indicating a shift in effectiveness over time.

CONCLUSION

Anti-COVID-19 measures have shown selective efficacy in preventing HAIs. The study emphasizes the need for context-specific strategies and increased focus on regions with limited resources. Continued research is essential to refine infection control practices, especially in high-risk settings.

The Next Generation COVID-19 Antiviral; Niclosamide-Based Inorganic Nanohybrid System Kills SARS-CoV-2

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a serious global threat with surging new variants of concern. Although global vaccinations have slowed the pandemic, their longevity is still unknown. Therefore, new orally administrable antiviral agents are highly demanded. Among various repurposed drugs, niclosamide (NIC) is the most potential one for various viral diseases such as COVID-19, SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), MERS (middle east respiratory syndrome), influenza, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), etc. Since NIC cannot be effectively absorbed, a required plasma concentration for antiviral potency is hard to maintain, thereby restricting its entry into the infected cells. Such a 60-year-old bioavailability challenging issue has been overcome by engineering with MgO and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), forming hydrophilic NIC-MgO-HPMC, with improved intestinal permeability without altering NIC metabolism as confirmed by parallel artificial membrane permeability assay. The inhibitory effect on SARS-CoV-2  replication is confirmed in the Syrian hamster model to reduce lung injury. Clinical studies reveal that the bioavailability of NIC hybrid drug can go 4 times higher than the intact NIC. The phase II clinical trial shows a dose-dependent bioavailability of NIC from hybrid drug  suggesting its potential applicability as a game changer in achieving the much-anticipated endemic phase.