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Background: Self-medication with antibiotics is a common practice across different age groups and different cultures that can cause problems such as drug resistance, side effects, and rising costs for the healthcare system community. During the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), people with mild symptoms have avoided seeing a doctor, preferring to self-medicate. The impact of self-medication in COVID-19 patients is an important public health issue. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of, attitudes toward, and performance of self-medication with antibiotics in COVID-19 patients.Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among patients with COVID-19. Participants were selected by random sampling. A survey of knowledge, attitude and practice of taking antibiotics in patients with COVID-19 was conducted. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22 software.Results: The prevalence of self-medication with antibiotics in patients with COVID-19 was 56.1%. Most COVID-19 patients have the overall knowledge, attitude and practice score of self-medication with antibiotics. There was a significant difference between the knowledge and attitudes of educated and uneducated patients (p<0.01). Of the demographic variables, there was no significant difference between sexes in terms of attitude and practice of antibiotic self-medication in COVID-19 patients (p>0.05).Conclusion: Considering the high prevalence of antibiotic self-medication in COVID-19 patients, it is recommended to provide the necessary education and practical means of reducing the amount of antibiotic self-medication., Zielsetzung: Die Selbstmedikation mit Antibiotika ist in verschiedenen Altersgruppen und Kulturen gängige Praxis, die Probleme wie Arzneimittelresistenzen, Nebenwirkungen und steigende Kosten für das Gesundheitssystems mit sich bringen kann. Nach dem Auftreten von COVID-19 haben Menschen mit leichten Symptomen den Gang zum Arzt vermieden und vorgezogen, sich selbst zu behandeln. Die Auswirkungen der Selbstmedikation bei an COVID-19 Erkrankten ist ein wichtiges Thema für die öffentliche Gesundheit. Ziel der Studie war es, Wissen, Einstellung und Verhalten von an COVID-19 Erkrankten in Bezug auf die Selbstmedikation mit Antibiotika zu bewerten.Methode: Die Querschnittsstudie wurde bei an COVID-19 Erkrankten durchgeführt. Die Teilnehmer wurden nach dem Zufallsprinzip ausgewählt. Es wurde eine Umfrage zu Wissen, Einstellung und Praxis der Antibiotikaeinnahme durchgeführt. Die Daten wurden mit der Software SPSS Version 22 ausgewertet.Ergebnisse: Die Prävalenz der Selbstmedikation mit Antibiotika bei Erkrankten mit COVID-19 betrug 56,1%. Die meisten Patienten waren in Bezug auf die Selbstmedikation mit Antibiotika durchschnittlich informiert. Es bestand ein signifikanter Unterschied zwischen dem Wissen und der Einstellung gebildeter und ungebildeter Patienten (p<0,01). Zwischen demographischen Variablen und Geschlecht gab es keinen Unterschied (p >0,05).Schlussfolgerung: In Anbetracht der hohen Prävalenz der Antibiotika-Selbstmedikation bei an COVID-19 Erkrankten wird eine Aufklärung einschließlich praktischer Angebote empfohlen, um die Selbstmedikation mit Antibiotika zu reduzieren.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are considered as bio-ameliorators that confer better salt resistance to host plants while improving soil biological activity. Despite their importance, data about the likely synergisms between PGPR and halophytes in their native environments are scarce. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of PGPR (Glutamicibacter sp. and Pseudomonas sp.) inoculation on biomass, nutrient uptake, and antioxidant enzymes of Suaeda fruticosa, an obligate halophyte native in salt marshes and arid areas in Tunisia. Besides, the activity of rhizospheric soil enzyme activities upon plant inoculation was determined. Plants were grown in pots filled with soil and irrigated with 600 mM NaCl for 1 month. Inoculation (either with Pseudomonas sp. or Glutamicibacter sp.) resulted in significantly higher shoot dry weight and less accumulation of Na and Cl in shoots of salt-treated plants. Glutamicibacter sp. inoculation significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration, while increasing the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase; catalase; ascorbate peroxidase; and glutathione reductase) by up to 100%. This provides strong arguments in favor of a boosting effect of this strain on S. fruticosa challenged with high salinity. Pseudomonas sp. inoculation increased shoot K and Ca content and lowered shoot MDA concentration. Regarding the soil biological activity, Pseudomonas sp. significantly enhanced the activities of three rhizospheric soil enzymes (urease, ß-glucosidase, and dehydrogenase) as compared to their respective non-inoculated saline treatment. Hence, Pseudomonas sp. could have a great potential to be used as bio-inoculants in order to improve plant growth and soil nutrient uptake under salt stress. Indole-3-acetic acid concentration in the soil increased in both bacterial treatments under saline conditions, especially with Glutamicibacter sp. (up to +214%). As a whole, Glutamicibacter sp. and Pseudomonas sp

The current study sought to identify factors that may affect health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients recovering from COVID-19 infection in Iran. In a cross-sectional study 258 patients diagnosed with COVID-19, participants completed a questionnaire approximately one month after hospital discharge when demographic and clinical factors (including insomnia) and HRQoL were assessed. A logistic regression was used. Age, gender, marital status, education, having child, early physician visit, early diagnosis, early hospitalization, symptom type, Rhesus factor, and level of insomnia were associated with various components of HRQoL (p<0.05). In multivariate analyses, poorer physical HRQoL was independently associated with female gender (OR=4.53; 95% CI=2.22-2.29), initial symptom of cough (OR=2.73; 95% CI=1.26-5.94), and insomnia (OR=2.74; 95% CI=1.22-6.14). Poorer mental HRQoL was associated with being age 40 years or older (OR=1.90; 95% CI=1.02-3.54), female gender (OR=2.48; 95% CI=1.26-4.88), initial symptom being cough (OR=3.12; 95% CI=1.46-6.68), and insomnia (sub-threshold insomnia, OR=3.19; 95% CI, 1.51-6.74, to severe insomnia, OR=3.86; 95% CI=1.35-11.07). Healthcare professionals should be aware that older people, female gender, those with initial symptom of cough, and insomnia may be at greater risk for poor quality of life following hospital discharge.

Introduction: Patients with COVID-19 often suffer from psychological problems such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and self-stigmatization that may negatively impact their quality of life and sleep. This study examined mental health as a potential mediating factor linking self-stigmatization and PTSD to quality of life and sleep. Methods: Using a cross-sectional design, 844 people who had recovered from COVID-19 were called and interviewed. Data were collected using structured scales. Structural equation modeling was applied to assess fitness of a mediation model including self-stigma and PTSD as independent factors and quality of life and insomnia as dependent variables. Results: Mental health, COVID-19-related self-stigma, and mental quality of life were associated. Insomnia, PTSD, and COVID-19-related self-stigma displayed significant direct associations (r =.334 to 0.454; p <.01). A mediation model indicated satisfactory goodness of fit (CFI = 0.968, TLI = 0.950, SRMR = 0.071, RMSEA = 0.068). Mental health as a mediator had negative relationships with COVID-19-related self-stigma, PTSD, and insomnia and positive associations with quality of life. Conclusion: Mental health may mediate effects of COVID-19-related self-stigma and PTSD on quality of life and insomnia. Designing programs to improve mental health among patients with COVID-19 may include efforts to reduce negative effects of PTSD and COVID-19-related self-stigma on quality of life and insomnia.