Characteristics of Clostridioides difficile colonization in Ilamian children.

Background: The increasing colonization with Clostridioides difficile in paediatric hospitalized population is a well known event; however, its prevalence in Iranian children has not effectively been identified yet. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the intestinal-carriage rates of C. difficile and molecular characterization of C. difficile in the Ilamian pediatric population from May 22, 2018, until September 22, 2018. Materials and Methods: Eighty samples were obtained from 40 children aged <5 years, at day 0 of their hospitalization (N=40 samples), to determine community-associated colonization, and then at day 5 days after hospitalization (N=40 samples), to determine healthcare associated colonization. The stool samples were examined for C. difficile, and isolated strains were evaluated for production of Clostridial toxins A/B and molecular characterizations. Results: The colonization rates of C. difficile and toxigenic C. difficile were 10% (8/80) and 3.75% (3/80), respectively. Based on the age group, the intestinal-carriage rates of C. difficile were 37.5, 50, and 12.5% in children ≤ 1, 1-3, and 3-5 years old, respectively. Our findings have revealed eight distinct ribotypes. Our findings have revealed eight distinct ribotypes of C. difficile isolates. Three out of 8 (37.5%) of C. difficile isolates were considered as community-associated colonization and belonged to ribotypes 7, 8, and 9. Conclusion. Our findings suggest the need of confirmation by further epidemiological studies in Iranian children. Given that the 37.5% of cases observed were community-associated, estimates of the incidence of C. difficile infections, that include only hospitalized children, may largely underestimate the burden of disease in children.

Contribution value of coagulation abnormalities in COVID-19 prognosis: a bright perspective on the laboratory pattern of patients with coronavirus disease 2019.

OBJECTIVE: From the beginning of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) pandemic in the world, much efforts have been accomplished to explain a precise clinical feature for the disease and to find the best therapeutic approach for the patients. Although coagulation abnormalities have found in novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) patients, still little is known about the association between the disease and changes in coagulation parameters. Our purpose is to evaluate the differences between the coagulation parameters between COVID-19 patients and healthy counterparts. PATIENTS AND METHODS: 63 patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection were admitted to the present study. We evaluated coagulation value in these patients and in 40 healthy individuals. RESULTS: We found that although there was no significant difference between PT and PTT values in patients and healthy counterparts, the fibrinogen values in patients were higher than the control group (p < 0.05). Moreover, the values of fibrin/fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) and D-dimer in all COVID-19 cases were considerably higher than those in control people (p < 0.05). Of note, FDP and D-dimer in patients with regular COVID-19 infection were lower than patients with severe forms. CONCLUSIONS: It seems that the conduction of routine blood coagulation test could be a beneficial supplementary approach for early diagnosis of COVID-19. In addition, our study shed more light on the therapeutic value of anti-coagulant-based treatment for COVID-19 patients, especially for those with severe type of the disease.

Detection of Leishmania major DNA within wild caught Phlebotomus papatasi and species composition of sand flies in endemic focus of cutaneous leishmaniasis, in western Iran.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis is one of the most important public health problem in many developing countries. The present study was conducted to determine the vector(s), the parasite and the species composition of sand flies in the Dehloran County during May-November 2012. Sand flies were collected by sticky traps and mounted in Puri's medium for species identification. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques of kDNA, ITS1-rDNA, followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) were used for identification of DNA of Leishmania parasites in infected sand flies. A total of 82443 specimens comprising 15 species of sand flies (5 Phlebotomus and 10 Sergentomyia) were collected and identified. The species of Phlebotomus papatasi was dominant in outdoor and indoor resting places. Among the 280 specimens of female P. papatasi tested by PCR of kDNA, ITS1-rDNA genes of the parasite followed by RFLP, only 5 of them (1.8 %) were positive to Leishmania major parasites. This is the first molecular detection of leishmania infection of P. papatasi to L. major in this region. The results indicated that, P. papatasi was only species found infected by L. major and the principal vector of disease agent to human.

Prevalence and risk factors of Pediculus (humanus) capitis (Anoplura: Pediculidae), in primary schools in Sanandaj City, Kurdistan Province, Iran.

Human head lice, Pediculus (humanus) capitis, infest people worldwide and are most prevalent in children. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of head lice, in relation to socioeconomic status of the family and hygienic practices in the home. The prevalence rate was determined in 27 primary schools that had 810 students in Sanandaj city who were selected by multistage, systematic random sampling. A total of 38 students from all grades were infested with different rates of infestations. In addition, standard questionnaire recorded information about demographic features of each student were fulfilled. Children aged 10-11 years were the most frequently affected, there was a significant relationship between head louse infestation, family income and parents education level (α=5%). Pediculosis is a public health problem in many parts of the world. Pediculosis was found to be more prevalent among children of fathers with lower level of education and socioeconomic status, it is necessary to give health education to families in order to prevent pediculosis in this area.