Chittagong Medical College Hospital

About: Chittagong Medical College Hospital is a healthcare organization based out in Chittagong, Bangladesh. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Malaria. The organization has 676 authors who have published 601 publications receiving 7040 citations.

Convalescent Plasma Therapy for Management of COVID-19: Perspectives and Deployment in the Current Global Pandemic.

Abstract: The world is striving against the severe crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic. Healthcare professionals are struggling to treat their patients based on nonspecific therapies. Amidst this uncertainty, convalescent plasma therapy (CPT) has appeared to be an interim adjuvant therapy for severely ill patients of COVID-19 until long-term clinical trial treatment options are available. Considering the transfusion-related hazards, especially lung injuries and microbial transmission, where sensitivity is not ensured, rigorous trials should be conducted to determine this therapy's efficacy. Moreover, the ratio of recovered cases to plasma donors is not satisfying, which questioning this therapy's availability and accessibility. Although some countries are making the treatment free, the attributable cost mandates a justification for its suitability and sustainability. Our article aimed to review the published facts and findings of CPT's effectiveness in lowering the mortality rate of COVID-19. This pandemic showed that healthcare systems worldwide need core reform. A unified global collaboration must align and coordinate to face the current pandemic and enhance world readiness for future outbreaks based on health equity and equality.

Plasmodium malariae in Bangladesh

Abstract: We describe a 32-year-old Bangladeshi male presenting with severe malaria caused by a mono-infection with Plasmodium malariae. Rosetting of infected and uninfected erythrocytes, a putative virulence factor in falciparum malaria, was observed in the blood slide. Severe disease caused by P. malariae is extremely rare. The patient made a rapid recovery with intravenous quinine treatment.

Know thy neighbors: The status of cardiac surgery in the South Asian countries around India.

Abstract: Objectives The South Asian neighboring countries of India include Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, The Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Interestingly all these countries possess either a land or a sea border with India and no border among themselves. These countries have historic, cultural, ethnic and genetic links with India. The paper describes the developmental history and current status of cardiac surgery in these countries. Methods Thorough search of the printed and electronic materials has been made. The authors visited all these countries and contacted the eminent surgeons personally or through mails. All the information is cross-checked and compiled. Record keeping is not well organized in most of these countries. Best information often came from unusual sources like Anesthetists’ society or the corporate houses. Results Four of these countries Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have their cardiac surgical programs. Collectively they perform around 38000 cardiac operations a year which is a quarter of the cases performed in India. These countries are important sources of medical tourism in India which is worth 3 billion US$ of business annually. Conclusion When the number of operations per million populations is considered, Bangladesh and Nepal are lagging behind India where as Pakistan has a comparable figure. Sri Lanka with 265 cardiac operations/million populations has the best figures in the region. However when compared with the Western countries even the Lankan figures also look quite inadequate.

Peoples' understanding, acceptance, and perceived challenges of vaccination against COVID-19: A cross-sectional study in Bangladesh.

Abstract: In order to eliminate COVID-19, many countries provided vaccinations. However, success depends on peoples' knowledge levels and rates of acceptance. But, previous research on this topic is currently lacking in Bangladesh. This cross-sectional study aimed at to investigate Bangladeshi peoples' knowledge, acceptance, and perception of challenges regarding COVID-19 vaccines. Quantitative data were collected using an online survey (n = 1975) and face-to-face interviews (n = 2200) with a pre-tested structured questionnaire. In addition, seven open-ended interviews were conducted with health experts regarding challenges of vaccination. Binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between explanatory and dependent variables. Effect size was estimated to understand the magnitude of relationship between two variables. Of 4175 respondents, 92.6% knew about COVID-19 vaccines, while only 37.4% believed vaccines to be effective in controlling COVID-19. Nearly 46% of respondents believed that COVID-19 vaccines have side-effects, and 16.4% of respondents believed that side-effects could be life-threatening. Only 60.5% of respondents indicated that they would receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Out of 1650 respondents (39.5%) who did not intend to receive the vaccine, 948 (57.4%) believed that they would be naturally protected. Regressions results indicated that men had higher rates of knowledge regarding the vaccine. In addition, rural respondents demonstrated lower knowledge regarding the vaccine. Furthermore, education had a significant association with knowledge of COVID-19 vaccines. Respondents with university education had more knowledge regarding the vaccine (Odds ratio, OR = 29.99; 95% confidence interval, CI 11.40-78.90, effect size 1.88; p = 0.01) and correct dosage (OR 27.34; 95% CI 15.25-49.00, effect size 1.83; p = 0.01). However, women (OR 1.16; 95% CI 0.96-1.40, effect size 0.08) and rural (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.07-1.44, effect size 0.12; p = 0.01) respondents were more enthusiastic regarding receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. Higher educated respondents showed higher probability of receiving the vaccine. Those who believed in the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine were 11.57 times more interested (OR 11.57; 95% CI 8.92-15.01, effect size 1.35; p = 0.01) in receiving the vaccine. Open-ended interviews identified several challenges toward successful COVID-19 vaccination. Mass awareness creation, uninterrupted supply, equitable distribution, and sectoral coordination were suggested to achieve at least 70% immunization across the country.