Background: Laboratory testing is commonly performed in patients with COVID-19. Each of the laboratory parameters has potential value for risk stratification and prediction of COVID-19 outcomes. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the difference between these parameters in severe and nonsevere disease and to provide the optimal cutoff value for predicting severe disease. Method: We performed a systematic literature search through electronic databases. The variables of interest were serum procalcitonin, albumin, C-reactive protein (CRP), D-dimer, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels in each group of severity outcomes from COVID-19. Results: There were a total of 4848 patients from 23 studies. Our meta-analysis suggest that patients with severe COVID-19 infections have higher procalcitonin, (mean difference 0.07; 95% CI 0.05-0.10; p < 0.00001), CRP (mean difference 36.88; 95% CI 29.10-44.65; p < 0.00001), D-Dimer (mean difference 0.43; 95% CI 0.31-0.56; p < 0.00001), and LDH (mean difference 102.79; 95% CI 79.10-126.49; p < 0.00001) but lower levels of albumin (mean difference −4.58; 95% CI −5.76 to −3.39; p < 0.00001) than those with nonsevere COVID-19 infections. The cutoff values for the parameters were 0.065 ng/mL for procalcitonin, 38.85 g/L for albumin, 33.55 mg/L for CRP, 0.635 μ/L for D-dimer, and 263.5 U/L for LDH, each with high sensitivity and specificity. Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggests elevated procalcitonin, CRP, D-dimer, and LDH and decreased albumin can be used for predicting severe outcomes in COVID-19.

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Dengue disease is an emerging mosquito-borne viral infection transmitted between humans by Aedes spp. that are distributed mainly in the tropical and subtropical region along with chikungunya and zika diseases. The distribution of dengue disease is influenced by local variation, such as geography, rainfall, temperature, and rapid urbanization or migration. The epidemy of mosquito-borne infection significantly led to increased number of cases and hyperendemicity which induce a more severe form of dengue accompanied by cocirculation of chikungunya and zika. The rapid global spreading of dengue disease created public health burdens that are presently unfulfilled by the absence of specific therapy, simple diagnosis tool for the early phase, and effective and efficient vector control system. This review highlights the current situation of dengue distribution, epidemiology, and new strategies for early dengue diagnosis and risk prediction of severity that can be used to improve oversight and alleviate the heavy burden of the disease.

Background Healthcare workers (HCWs) compared to the general population are at an increased risk of exposure to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that causes coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19). Therefore, they are given priority for the COVID-19 vaccine in the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Indonesia. However, when the daily new COVID-19 cases are still high, and the data regarding the vaccine’s efficacy in healthcare settings remains unavailable, the vaccinated HCWs still likely to get COVID-19 infection and at risk for further transmission. Objective To identify COVID-19 cases among vaccinated HCWs at Siloam Teaching Hospital, Indonesia, via active and passive surveillance conducted by the hospital’s COVID-19 infection prevention and control unit Results Among 1,040 HCWs who have received the first and second vaccination, 13 (1.25%) HCWs were positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) from 2-11 days (median five days) after the second vaccination. Conclusion The early laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 among post-vaccinated HCWs indicates that HCWs are still at risk to acquire COVID-19 disease during the vaccination campaign. Therefore, the presence of symptoms after vaccination cannot be considered as vaccine-related symptoms, and regular COVID-19 testing should be conducted among HCWs.

BackgroundDengue virus (DENV) infection is an emerging arboviral infection in tropical and sub-tropical countries in South-East Asia, the Western Pacific and South and Central America. Secondary DENV infection is the most widely accepted risk factor for the development of severe forms. Methods to discriminate primary and secondary DENV infection may be of great prognostic value. ELISA based detection of specific antibodies (IgG and IgM) to the four DENV serotypes is valuable for detemination of primary or secondary infection. Several studies had been performed to discriminate primary and secondary DENV infection using the ratio of IgG and IgM at the various days of symptoms onset. The aim of this study is to determine the best cut-off point of IgG to IgM ratio is able to discriminating secondary from primary DENV infection in adult using samples from early days of symptoms onset.MethodsThis prospective cohort study on 48 adult patients with DENV infected patients on the period of August 2011–January 2012 in 5 out-patient settings health facilities in Tangerang district, Banten province, Indonesia with chief complaint of fever less than 3 days. Datas were collected on the day the patients attended health facilities, consisted of demographic, clinical, laboratory, and serological data. Serological data from 48 serum sample from adult patients were evaluated using Focus Diagnostics Dengue Virus IgM and IgG Capture DxSelect™ ELISA Kits to determine IgG, IgM index values and SD Bioline Dengue Duo™ Rapid Tests to determine NS1, IgG, and IgM result.ResultsAccording to NS1, IgG and IgM results, 36 patients were classified as secondary infection, 12 were primary Infection. The mean (SD) of IgG/IgM ratios for secondary and primary infection were 3.28 (0.54) and 0.18 (0.11) consecutively. The IgG/IgM ratio of ≥ 1.14 confirmed secondary infection with sensitivity of 80.56 %, specificity 91.67 %, accuracy level 83.33 %, and likely hood ratio of (LR) 9.67.ConclusionThe IgG/IgM ratio of ≥ 1.14 as the best cut off point to determine secondary DENV infection in early days of symptoms onset.