Journal of Infectious Diseases and Medicine

Background: As part of the country's ongoing EVD outbreak preparedness activities in Uganda, our goal was to evaluate community knowledge and attitudes and preventive practices linked to the disease.

Methods: This study employed a community-based cores sectional study among 842 participants. The study was conducted in three districts of Mubende, Kyegegwa and Kassanda in the central region of Uganda. These are high-risk districts in Uganda

Results: Results show that the majority 290(34.4%) of the participants were aged between 28–38 years, 578(68.6%) were female, 482(57.2%) had primary education, 431(51.2) single, 369(44.7) unemployed and 196(23.8) received information from radios. Results indicate that 821(97.5%) of the participants had heard of EVD, and 646(76.7%) reported that EVD is a rare and deadly disease. On the mode of transmission, 562(66.7%) knew that EVD is transmitted through physical contact with an infected person, 498(59.1%) through blood and 606(72.0%) through normal social contact. Overall, 525 respondents were classified as having good knowledge of the Ebola virus disease, accounting for 62.4% of the total, whereas 470(55.8%) had a favorable attitude toward the management and prevention of the Ebola virus disease. A greater understanding of the Ebola virus disease was found among participants with increased age and education beyond the first grade compared to those with no formal education. Casual labourers were 3 times more likely to have good practices compared to agriculturalists. Participants who received information from others sources were less likely to have good practices compared to those who received it from the radio.

Conclusion: Communities in Uganda impacted by filovirus outbreaks have a reasonable level of knowledge and a favourable attitude toward methods to prevent and control the Ebola disease. Public health officials should do more by providing instructional materials for future epidemic preparedness utilizing appropriate communication channels, especially, including local radios as reported by the communities.

Background: Remdesivir is an antiviral drug that has been used to treat hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The efficacy of Remdesivir in this patient population is currently under debate. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy of Remdesivir in hospitalized patients with COVID-19.

Methods: We searched multiple databases for randomized controlled trials, observational studies, and case series that reported Remdesivir's efficacy in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. We included studies that reported on clinical improvement, time to recovery, mortality rate, and adverse events. We conducted a meta-analysis of the included studies using a random-effects model. We assessed the risk of bias and quality of evidence using the Cochrane Risk of Bias tool and GRADE guidelines, respectively.

Results: We included 25 studies with a total of 9,063 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. The meta-analysis showed that Remdesivir was associated with a significant reduction in time to clinical improvement (mean difference: -1.15 days, 95% CI: -1.82 to -0.49) and an increased proportion of patients achieving clinical recovery (OR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.29 to 2.01). Remdesivir was also associated with a decreased risk of mortality (OR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.55 to 0.85). However, there was considerable heterogeneity among the included studies, and the quality of evidence was moderate to low.

Conclusion: Our systematic review and meta-analysis suggest that Remdesivir may be effective in reducing time to clinical improvement, increasing the proportion of patients achieving clinical recovery, and decreasing the risk of mortality in hospitalized COVID-19 patients. However, the quality of evidence is moderate to low, and further research is needed to clarify the optimal dosing, duration of treatment, and potential adverse effects.

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Antibiotic therapy is a critical component of the management of CAP caused by bacterial infection. However, the optimal use of antibiotics in the treatment of CAP remains a matter of debate. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to critically evaluate the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy in treating CAP caused by bacterial infection. A comprehensive search of various databases was conducted to identify all relevant studies published up to a certain date. The selected studies were then subjected to a rigorous selection process, and a meta-analysis was conducted to determine the overall effect of antibiotic therapy on CAP treatment. The findings of this study have important implications for clinical practice and public health.

Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory viral infection that affects people of all ages, but children are at a higher risk of infection and complications. Epidemiological studies have shown that influenza is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. This paper aims to review the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of influenza in children. It highlights the modes of transmission, risk factors, and clinical presentation of influenza in children. Additionally, the paper discusses the diagnostic methods, treatment, and prevention of influenza in children. The review emphasizes the importance of vaccination as a preventive measure against influenza and highlights the need for increased awareness and education on influenza in children.

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) and Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) are common complications of antibiotic therapy. Probiotics are live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer a health benefit on the host. Several strains of probiotics have been studied for their effectiveness in preventing AAD and CDI, including Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium bifidum, and Saccharomyces boulardii. Studies have shown that probiotics can reduce the incidence of AAD by up to 60% and reduce the risk of CDI by up to 50%. While probiotics are generally safe and well-tolerated, healthcare providers should be aware of the potential risks and limitations associated with their use. Future research is needed to optimize the use of probiotics in the prevention of AAD and CDI, including determining the most effective strains and dosages, identifying patient subgroups that may benefit the most from probiotics, and exploring potential interactions between probiotics and antibiotics.