HH may have increased slightly, but the largest effect was a switch from soap and water to alcohol which may have been associated with decreased cross-transmission of Klebsiella, although this may have been confounded by lower device use. Alcohol-based antiseptic may be an improvement over current practices, but further research is required.

EDITORIAL 191Pseudomonas cepacia infection associated with chlorhexidine contamination. Am J Med 1982;73:183-186

No abstract

The emerging epidemic of a new coronavirus infection (COVID-19), received the status of an emergency of international importance and attracted the attention of not only health professionals, but also the population around the world. Although the risk of severe health consequences from COVID-19 for young people without comorbidities is relatively low, an increase in the incidence of infection in this age group may lead to an increase in the proportion of people with severe disease, as well as the spread of infection among older age groups who are in close contact with them and are at high risk of mortality from COVID-19. The aim of the study was to evaluate the clinical features of the new coronavirus infection among students of the North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov, placed in the observatory. Materials and methods. The study was conducted on the basis of the observatory of the North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov. All persons transferred to the observatory in the period from 21.04.2020 to 31.08.2020, epidemiological and clinical-anamnestic data were recorded. In a prospective study, all participants were asked to complete a Health Questionnaire (EQ-5D) over the phone 3 months after their stay at the observatory. Results. 113 people participated in the study: 45.1% of men (n = 51) and 54.9% of women (n = 62). The average age of the respondents was 22.4 2.5 years. When conducting a multivariate analysis, it was found that gender, age, belonging to an ethno-linguistic group, and chronic diseases are not reliable factors associated with the development of COVID-19 participants. According to the results of a prospective study, a statistically significant difference between the responses of respondents who had and did not have COVID-19 was obtained with a positive answer to the question about the presence of pain and discomfort (p 0.05).

INTRODUCTION: The sudden appearance of a new coronavirus infection in the world has posed difficult challenges for science to determine the main clinical manifestations of this disease, as well as to approve standards for diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Research of the symptoms of mild COVID-19 is continuing. The data obtained in such studies are particularly relevant for primary care physicians. THE AIM: To evaluate the features of the clinical course of COVID-19 among students of the North-Western State Medical University named after I.I. Mechnikov, placed in the observatory, during the first and second waves of rising morbidity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was conducted on the basis of the observatory of the NWSMU named after I.I. Mechnikov in two stages: in the period from 21.04.2020 to 31.08.2020 (the first wave) and from 16.09.2020 to 31.12.2020 (the second wave). Demographic, epidemiological, and clinical-anamnestic data were recorded in all participants of the study. RESULTS: The study involved 309 people: 39.8% men (n = 123) and 58.9% women (n = 182). The average age of the respondents was 21.5 2.6 years. The number of participants in the first and second waves was 113 and 196 people, respectively. The average age of participants with COVID-19 in the first wave was 1.5 years less and was 21.2 2.5 years (р 0.001). There was a significant increase in the frequency of the following symptoms: dry cough, loss of smell, headache, general weakness, increased body temperature to 38.0 С, nasal congestion (р 0.05) in students who were monitored in the second wave of increased incidence of COVID-19 compared to the first. The frequency of symptoms such as chest congestion, lower back pain, and fever above 38.0 С significantly decreased (р 0.05). There was a significant decrease in the incidence of viral pneumonia in patients who were observed during the second wave, compared with the data obtained during the first wave (р 0.001).