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Maskne, a newly coined term deriving from the contraction of mask-related acne, is a form of mechanical acne resulting from continuous textile–skin adherence and friction. Prolonged mask use heats up the face environment, thus modifying skin microbiota and sebum production. Although effective prevalence is unknown, since the pandemic began and the prolonged use of masks was extended to the general population, maskne has been a frequent topic of consultation among dermatologists. This term has been successfully introduced into common language, with more than 200,000 hashtags on social media, where it is also possible to find "home remedies" that can worsen this dermatosis. The aim of this paper is to discuss the pathogenesis, address clinicians on the correct differential diagnoses among facial dermatoses, and move towards the correct therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

(1) Background: The incidence proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Poland is not exactly known. This study aims to present secondary epidemiological data identifying the scale of the spread of novel coronavirus infection and the estimation of vaccination coverage in selected professional groups of HCWs in Poland. (2) Methods: The secondary epidemiological data included both the number of infections and infection fatality rate (IFR) in individual occupational groups, which occurred throughout the observation period (January 2021–July 2022), both in the country and in individual voivodeship (administrative area). (3) Results: The incidence proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infections among HCWs was 16.48%. The highest percentage of infected workers concerned laboratory scientists (21.62%) and paramedics (18%). The highest frequency of infections among HCWs occurred in the province of Zachodnio-Pomorskie (18.9%). Due to COVID-19, 558 healthcare workers died during the analysed period, mostly nurses (n = 236) and doctors (n = 200). The results regarding the vaccination coverage of HCWs against COVID-19 indicate the highest percentage of vaccinated were among doctors (83.63%) and the lowest among physiotherapists (38.2%). (4) Conclusions: In general, the percentage of infections was high in Poland during the pandemic (16.48%). Significant territorial differences were observed in the frequency of infections, deaths, and percentage of vaccinated workers in individual voivodeships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing research data suggests that the severity of COVID-19 is linked with higher levels of inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines, chemokines, tumor necrosis factor, C-reactive protein, ferritin, and D-dimers. In addition, it was evident from the existing research data that the severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection differs according to independent risk factors such as race and ethnicity. Some scarce evidence shows that the European Roma community is likely to be at an elevated risk of illness and death during the pandemic due to their lifestyle, social factors, and economics. Assuming that precautions must be taken to protect this population from coronavirus infections and from widening existing disparities in comparison with the Romanian ethnic population, the current study aimed to observe the clinical evolution of the Roma patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection in correlation with the laboratory findings and inflammatory markers involved. After calculating the sample size requirements, we included 83 Roma patients admitted to the hospital with severe COVID-19 and 236 patients of Romanian ethnicity with the same inclusion criteria. Patients were selected from the period stretching from March 2020 to December 2021, before COVID-19 vaccines were introduced. Compared with the general population, the Roma patients with severe SARS-CoV-2 infection had a higher unemployment rate (39.8%), and most of them were residing in rural regions (65.4%). There were significantly more overweight patients in the Roma group than in the control group (57.8% vs. 40.7%), and it was also observed that high blood pressure and diabetes mellitus were significantly more prevalent in the Roma patients. They had significantly longer mean duration of hospitalization was significantly longer in the group of Roma patients (18.1 days vs. 16.3 days). IL-6 and CRP levels were significantly more elevated during admission in the group of Roma patients (43.4% vs. 28.4%); however, IL-6 levels normalized at discharge, but ESR remained high. Although ICU admissions were significantly more frequent in this group, the mortality rate was not significantly higher than in the general population. It is necessary to plan different healthcare strategies aimed at special populations, such as the Roma ethnicity to prevent disparities in negative outcomes reflected in this study. The results imply that community-health collaborations between organizations of minority groups and healthcare professionals can mitigate the disproportionate consequences of the pandemic on Roma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Even after two years of pandemic, there are still uncertainties on how to proceed when we schedule endoscopic procedures. During the COVID-19 pandemic, some scientific societies recommended universal preprocedural testing for all patients. However, other societies recommended against and considered enough to maintain strict infection control strategies. Our aim was to evaluate this approach in order to see if it was safe for both patients and healthcare workers to proceed with the endoscopies without performing a systematic PCR on all patients. Methods: Retrospective chart review of all patients undergoing endoscopy without preprocedural COVID testing at our center from March 2020 to May 2021. PCR tests performed in the patients receiving an endoscopic procedure were analyzed, and patients who tested positive between 14 days before and after the endoscopic procedure were selected. The registry of the endoscopy unit members participating in these procedures was also analyzed. Results: A total of 10,132 procedures were performed in the unit with 26 patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. Nineteen of these procedures were performed in patients with unknown SARS-CoV-2 carrier status. In 23 (88.5%) cases, transmission occurred through social or familial contact, and in 3 (11.5%), transmission occurred in the hospital. Four health care workers became infected during this period and none of them were related to the endoscopic procedures performed in patients with COVID-19. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 positive testing in asymptomatic ambulatory patients is rare and the adequate use of individual protective measures emerges as the main way to control the spread of COVID-19 infection in endoscopy centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]