Merrin mathew - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Merrin mathew

Research paper thumbnail of Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura Following COVID-19 Vaccination (ChAdOx1 –nCov-19): A Case Report With OneYear Follow-Up

Hospital pharmacy, Apr 27, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of A sentinel surveillance of adverse events and breakthrough infections following COVID-19 precautionary dose among south Indian healthcare workers

Trends in immunotherapy, Aug 30, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Clinico-epidemiological profile and outcome of infected health care workers during the three consecutive waves of COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal cohort study

Therapeutic advances in vaccines and immunotherapy, 2023

Background: Health care workers are considered as high-risk population, who deal with many unknow... more Background: Health care workers are considered as high-risk population, who deal with many unknown, undiagnosed, and subclinical infectious diseases in their daily life. Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic posed as an add-on burden for these frontline workers in all aspects. Although, many adverse physical and mental effects of pandemic among health care workers (HCWs) were discussed worldwide, a long-term study for delayed complications needed to be explored. Aim: The study evaluates and compares three waves of the pandemic in various aspects such as the incidence, prevalence, severity, risk factors, and variations in the pattern of COVID-19 infection, impact of vaccination, and post-infection complications among the HCWs. Methodology: A longitudinal observational study was carried out over a period of 2 years and another 6 months for follow-up. The study included all HCWs who tested positive in any one wave of COVID-19 pandemic with any one of the confirmed COVID-19 test. Each COVID-19-affected HCW was followed up through telephone calls and direct interviews conducted at the study site. Admission details and other background details of the study population were collected from the hospital records. Results: A total of 968 HCWs were COVID-19 positive in any of the three waves, and highest incidence (53.00%) was caused by the Omicron variant. High severity and hospitalization was observed in the first wave (no vaccination) and fully immunized personnel were found to be out of danger of being hospitalized during all succeeding waves (chi-square value: 87.04, p < 0.05). Predictors such as female gender, occupational exposure, and comorbid status were identified as possible risk factors for infection. A total of 70 HCWs reported with 104 complications, of which chronic diseases such as new onset of diabetes ( n = 3), cardiovascular events ( n = 8), worsening of preexisting comorbidities ( n = 8), etc. were found out. Conclusions: This study proves the benefit of being immunized rather than the risk of being infected. This study documents that immunization impacted complication and hospitalization rates of COVID-19 infection. This evidence may help in tackling vaccine hesitancy across the nations.

Research paper thumbnail of COVID-19 vaccine triggered autoimmune hepatitis: case report

European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, Oct 7, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Active surveillance of adverse events following COVID-19 vaccines in a tertiary care hospital

Therapeutic Advances in Vaccines and Immunotherapy

Background: Vaccination is a safe and effective way to prevent disease and save lives, but it may... more Background: Vaccination is a safe and effective way to prevent disease and save lives, but it may also produce some undesirable adverse events (AEs)which may affect healthy individuals. Therefore, the monitoring of AE following immunization (AEFIs) is necessary. The objective of this study was to assess the AEs following COVID-19 vaccinations in a tertiary care hospital. Methodology: The study was conducted as active vaccine safety surveillance for a period of 6 months among the COVID-19 vaccine beneficiaries of the study site. Active surveillance was conducted via initiating two telephone contacts. The first surveillance was conducted in 8 days and the second surveillance after 28 days of post-vaccination. All identified AEs following immunizations (AEFIs) were reported and analysed by the AEFI investigation team at the study site. The causality assessment of each identified AEFI was performed using the World Health Organization’s causality assessment algorithm. Results: A total of...

Research paper thumbnail of COVID-19 vaccine triggered autoimmune hepatitis: case report

European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy

Research paper thumbnail of Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Case Report

Hospital Pharmacy, 2021

Background: Hypersensitivity or Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) following the COVID-19 vaccinat... more Background: Hypersensitivity or Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) following the COVID-19 vaccination has been reported rarely all over the world. LCV can be induced by certain factors such as infections, autoimmune disorders, malignancy, or some classes of drugs. Case presentation: A 32-year-old man, who was a known case of seizure disorder from his childhood presented to the department of dermatology with itchy red lesions on extremities and abdomen for the past 1 month. He explains a history of COVID-19 vaccination 1-month back and experienced itching on his lower limbs on the same day at night. A gradual worsening of the condition was observed day by day. He was hospitalized and diagnosed as LCV through clinical and laboratory findings. Conclusion: This case highlights a temporal association with the event of vaccination. The causality assessment showed an indeterminate causal association to LCV with COVID-19 Vaccination.

Research paper thumbnail of Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenia Purpura Following COVID-19 Vaccination (ChAdOx1 –nCov-19): A Case Report With OneYear Follow-Up

Hospital pharmacy, Apr 27, 2024

Research paper thumbnail of A sentinel surveillance of adverse events and breakthrough infections following COVID-19 precautionary dose among south Indian healthcare workers

Trends in immunotherapy, Aug 30, 2023

Research paper thumbnail of Clinico-epidemiological profile and outcome of infected health care workers during the three consecutive waves of COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal cohort study

Therapeutic advances in vaccines and immunotherapy, 2023

Background: Health care workers are considered as high-risk population, who deal with many unknow... more Background: Health care workers are considered as high-risk population, who deal with many unknown, undiagnosed, and subclinical infectious diseases in their daily life. Currently, the COVID-19 pandemic posed as an add-on burden for these frontline workers in all aspects. Although, many adverse physical and mental effects of pandemic among health care workers (HCWs) were discussed worldwide, a long-term study for delayed complications needed to be explored. Aim: The study evaluates and compares three waves of the pandemic in various aspects such as the incidence, prevalence, severity, risk factors, and variations in the pattern of COVID-19 infection, impact of vaccination, and post-infection complications among the HCWs. Methodology: A longitudinal observational study was carried out over a period of 2 years and another 6 months for follow-up. The study included all HCWs who tested positive in any one wave of COVID-19 pandemic with any one of the confirmed COVID-19 test. Each COVID-19-affected HCW was followed up through telephone calls and direct interviews conducted at the study site. Admission details and other background details of the study population were collected from the hospital records. Results: A total of 968 HCWs were COVID-19 positive in any of the three waves, and highest incidence (53.00%) was caused by the Omicron variant. High severity and hospitalization was observed in the first wave (no vaccination) and fully immunized personnel were found to be out of danger of being hospitalized during all succeeding waves (chi-square value: 87.04, p < 0.05). Predictors such as female gender, occupational exposure, and comorbid status were identified as possible risk factors for infection. A total of 70 HCWs reported with 104 complications, of which chronic diseases such as new onset of diabetes ( n = 3), cardiovascular events ( n = 8), worsening of preexisting comorbidities ( n = 8), etc. were found out. Conclusions: This study proves the benefit of being immunized rather than the risk of being infected. This study documents that immunization impacted complication and hospitalization rates of COVID-19 infection. This evidence may help in tackling vaccine hesitancy across the nations.

Research paper thumbnail of COVID-19 vaccine triggered autoimmune hepatitis: case report

European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy, Oct 7, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Active surveillance of adverse events following COVID-19 vaccines in a tertiary care hospital

Therapeutic Advances in Vaccines and Immunotherapy

Background: Vaccination is a safe and effective way to prevent disease and save lives, but it may... more Background: Vaccination is a safe and effective way to prevent disease and save lives, but it may also produce some undesirable adverse events (AEs)which may affect healthy individuals. Therefore, the monitoring of AE following immunization (AEFIs) is necessary. The objective of this study was to assess the AEs following COVID-19 vaccinations in a tertiary care hospital. Methodology: The study was conducted as active vaccine safety surveillance for a period of 6 months among the COVID-19 vaccine beneficiaries of the study site. Active surveillance was conducted via initiating two telephone contacts. The first surveillance was conducted in 8 days and the second surveillance after 28 days of post-vaccination. All identified AEs following immunizations (AEFIs) were reported and analysed by the AEFI investigation team at the study site. The causality assessment of each identified AEFI was performed using the World Health Organization’s causality assessment algorithm. Results: A total of...

Research paper thumbnail of COVID-19 vaccine triggered autoimmune hepatitis: case report

European Journal of Hospital Pharmacy

Research paper thumbnail of Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis Following COVID-19 Vaccination: A Case Report

Hospital Pharmacy, 2021

Background: Hypersensitivity or Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) following the COVID-19 vaccinat... more Background: Hypersensitivity or Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV) following the COVID-19 vaccination has been reported rarely all over the world. LCV can be induced by certain factors such as infections, autoimmune disorders, malignancy, or some classes of drugs. Case presentation: A 32-year-old man, who was a known case of seizure disorder from his childhood presented to the department of dermatology with itchy red lesions on extremities and abdomen for the past 1 month. He explains a history of COVID-19 vaccination 1-month back and experienced itching on his lower limbs on the same day at night. A gradual worsening of the condition was observed day by day. He was hospitalized and diagnosed as LCV through clinical and laboratory findings. Conclusion: This case highlights a temporal association with the event of vaccination. The causality assessment showed an indeterminate causal association to LCV with COVID-19 Vaccination.