Hospital Practices and Research

Abstract Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been associated with various risks, including the exposure of infectious agents.
Objectives: The study aims at describing the incidence of blood and body fluid (BBF) exposure in a COVID-19 facility so as viral transmission potential through blood.
Methods: A descriptive study of BBF exposure notified was carried out in a community hospital in Qatar.
Results: In 2020, 29 needlesticks injuries were reported, which is a significant increase compared to the year 2019 (6 incidents) and 2018 (5 incidents). No evidence of SARS-CoV-2 transmission was shown concerning the injury using symptoms monitoring and lab test.
Conclusion: The increased risk of BBF exposure during the pandemic provides insight into the need to review the prevention practices of occupational exposure during pandemics. Additional studies are required to define the risk of COVID-19 related to occupational exposure to BBF.

Abstract Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a global challenge to the health care system. A novel agent to combat this deadly virus is still a matter of research. Herbal molecules have served humanity since the beginning.
Objectives: This narrative review aims to study the antiviral properties of medicinal plants, which are already effectively used in the past against various viruses. It derives the importance of exploration of such phytochemicals, which can be complementarily used to treat COVID-19.
Methods: Studies related to traditional medicine and treatment for viruses were retrieved from databases including PubMed, Google scholar until December 2020 using the keywords SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, Immunological, Phyto-chemicals, Traditional Medicine. The resulting publications were analyzed to develop a narrative review on the traditional Indian phytochemicals that have been shown to effectively treat various viral infections and potentially treat or prevent COVID-19.
Results: Many of the researches are showing that Indian herbal compounds have a significant potential against viral diseases. Plants like Azadirachta indica, Withania somnifera, Tinospora cordifolia, Ocimum basilicum, and many more have been shown tremendous antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulatory activities.
Conclusion: Phytochemicals obtained from the herbs can be helpful in the treatment and prevention of SARS-CoV-2via various modes such as inhibition of attachment, penetration, uncoating, replication, assembly, and release of respiratory viruses. Further analysis of the potential phytochemicals in treating SARS-CoV-2 in clinical trials is warranted.

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