Browsing by Author "Tapela, Kesego"

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    Parallels in Sepsis and COVID-19 Conditions: Implications for Managing Severe COVID-19
    (Front. Immunol, 2021-02-03) Olwal, Charles Ochieng; Nganyewo, Nora Nghuchuzie; Tapela, Kesego
    Sepsis is a life-threatening systemic illness attributed to a dysregulated host response to infection. Sepsis is a global burden killing ~11 million persons annually. In December 2019, a novel pneumonia condition termed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), emerged and has resulted in more than 1,535,982 deaths globally as of 8th December 2020. These two conditions share many pathophysiological and clinical features. Notably, both sepsis and COVID-19 patients experience consumptive thrombocytopenia, haemolytic anaemia, vascular microthrombosis, multi-organ dysfunction syndrome, coagulopathy, septic shock, respiratory failure, fever, leukopenia, hypotension, leukocytosis, high cytokine production and high predisposition to opportunistic infections. Considering the parallels in the immunopathogenesis and pathophysiological manifestations of sepsis and COVID 19, it is highly likely that sepsis care, which has a well-established history in most health systems, could inform on COVID-19 management. In view of this, the present perspective compares the immunopathogenesis and pathophysiology of COVID-19 and non-SARS CoV-2 induced sepsis, and lessons from sepsis that can be applicable to COVID 19 managem
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    Parallels in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and M. tuberculosis: a synergistic or antagonistic alliance?
    (Future Medicine Ltd, 2021-01-06) Tapela, Kesego; Olwa, Charles Ochieng; Quaye, Osbourne
    The world is facing a major challenge of the new pneumonia condition termed COVID-19 caused by SARSCoV-2, the seventh member of human coronaviruses. The global burden of COVID-19 is rising daily and as of 10 November 2020, there were over 1,275,122 deaths (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/). Coronaviruses are enveloped, positive-sense and single-stranded RNA viruses [1]. Based on 96.2% nucleotide sequence identity with a bat-borne coronavirus (BatCoV RaTG13) that has been identified in Rhinolophus affinis bat species, it is likely that SARS-CoV-2 originated from a bat [2]. COVID-19 is primarily defined by an acute viral pneumonia and cytokine storm leading to respiratory failure[3]. The main transmission route of this virus is droplets blown out through cough and sneezing by an infected person. The common symptoms of COVID-19 include cough, fever, shortness of breath and tiredness [4]. Severe cases manifest in symptoms that are associated with cellular immune deficiency, coagulation activation, myocardia, multiple organ dysfunction and septic shock [5]. SARS-CoV2 is highly pathogenic in persons with underlying medical conditions that reduce their immune competence such as TB [6]. TB, caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and transmitted through infected air droplets from cough or sneezing, is one of the top ten causes of death due to infectious diseases globally, with an estimated 10 million infections and 1.5 million deaths in 2018 [7]. Indeed, since TB affects the respiratory system, it could prove catastrophic if present in comorbidity with COVID-19 [6]. In this commentary, we discuss the current state of knowledge on the parallels in the pathogenesis of SARS-CoV-2 and M. tuberculosis and the potential implications of co-infection on the clinical outcomes.
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    Suboptimal antimicrobial stewardship in the COVID-19 era: is humanity staring at a postantibiotic future
    (2021-07-28) Owoicho, Oloche; Tapela, Kesego; Zune, Alexandra Lindsey Djomkam
    In the absence of potent antimicrobial agents, it is estimated that bacterial infections could cause millions of deaths. The emergence of COVID-19, its complex pathophysiology and the high propensity of patients to coinfections has resulted in therapeutic regimes that use a cocktail of antibiotics for disease management. Suboptimal antimicrobial stewardship in this era and the slow pace of drug discovery could result in large-scale drug resistance, narrowing future antimicrobial therapeutics. Thus, judicious use of current antimicrobials is imperative to keep up with existing and emerging infectious pathogens. Here, we provide insights into the potential implications of suboptimal antimicrobial stewardship, resulting from the emergence of COVID-19, on the spread of antimicrobial resistance