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Background: The decision to re-open schools during the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic isn't easy, and a lot of factors are contributing to direct such a decision. Authorities have responsibilities to both organize the education process and to keep the children, teachers, families and communities safe during such process. To produce the good from the bad out of such a critical issue needs a lot of creativity, dedication and responsibility. Methods: We searched PubMed, JAMA network, New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) and other journals for studies published from January 1, 2020, to October 15, 2020. We searched in 45 references. We selected articles relevant to a general medicine readership, systematic reviews, letters to the editors and clinical practice guidelines. Other sources included publications from international organizations like World Health Organizations (WHO). Results: Strategies to protect children during the COVID-19 pandemic include prevention of collapse of various healthcare services, up-scaling of COVID-19 testing, maintaining vital access to social, economic and health care and using research for better understanding of COVID-19. Elements necessary for standing in face of COVID-19 include choosing science, the rule of law, equity in delivering healthcare services, resilient healthcare systems with entrusted leaderships, investment in scientific research and the global support of international organizations. Conclusion: We conclude that societies need to keep the necessary education systems working efficiently, during these bad times that are enforcing the globe to live symbiotically with the third and most dangerous zoonotic coronavirus that has crossed the species barrier from wild animals to humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fecal contamination of drinking water is a major health problem which accounts for many cases of diarrhea mainly in infants and foreigners. This contamination is a complex interaction of many parameters. Antibiotic resistance among bacterial isolates complicates the problem. The study was done to identify fecal contamination of drinking water by Diarrheagenic Antibiotic-Resistant Escherichia coli in Zagazig city and to trace reasons for such contamination, three hundred potable water samples were investigated for E. coli existence. Locations of E. coli positive samples were investigated in relation to population density, water source, and type of water pipe. Sixteen E. coli strains were isolated. Antibiotic sensitivity was done and enterotoxigenic, enteropathogenic, and enterohaemorrhagic virulence genes were investigated by PCR. Probability of fecal contamination correlated with higher population density, with increased distance from Zagazig water plant, and with asbestos cement water pipes. Resistance to at least one antimicrobial drug was found in all isolates. Virulence genes were detected in a rate of 26.27%, 13.13%, 20%, 6.67%, and 33.33% for LT, ST, stx1, stx2, and eae genes, respectively. This relatively high frequency of fecal contamination points towards the high risk of developing diarrhea by antibiotic resistant DEC in low socioeconomic communities particularly with old fashion distribution systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Chronic hepatitis C virus infection and its sequela are major health problems facing the Egyptian community. The high prevalence and spread rates of the disease require serious actions to stop or decrease these rates. Determination of HCV genotypes and subgenotypes adds significant knowledge about the epidemiology of the disease, and provides an added value in the decision making process of what strategy to follow and what therapy response to expect. The molecular epidemiology and genetic variability of HCV variants circulating in Egypt still need further analysis. Objectives: The study was held to evaluate the genotype and subgenotype of the hepatitis c virus circulating in Sharkia as one of the large governorates of Egypt, which was not included in any study for genotyping of the virus before. Patients and Methods: The HCV molecular epidemiology in Sharkia governorate was studied using direct sequencing and further phylogenetic analysis of a partial NS5B region of the HCV genome from 63 patients. HCV genotype and subtype were successfully determined in 62 out of 63 patients. Results: The highest prevalent genotype was genotype 4a, which was found in 57 patients (92%) followed by 2 isolates (3%) with genotype 4o, 2 strains (3%) with genotype 1g and one isolate (2%) with genotype 4n. Conclusions: This molecular epidemiology study revealed high prevalence of HCV genotype 4, subtype 4a among Egyptian patients residing in Sharkia governorate, Egypt. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]