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Mar 2026 DOI 10.14302/issn.2994-6743.ijstd-26-6060
Francesco Amadeo PierCorresponding author
Objective To describe the clinical features and real-world treatment of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) using fixed-dose or free combinations of 2-drug regimens (2DR) of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Design Italian retrospective cohort study. Methods Data were extracted from PLHIV who initiated or switched to 2DR: Group 1 (fixed dose), Group 2 (free combination). Results Group 1 was younger and more predominantly male, and had shorter time from AIDS-defining diagnosis to 2DR-ART and from diagnosis to baseline, a lower prevalence of resistance, and fewer comorbidities than Group 2. Median baseline viral load was <50 copies/mL in both groups, but Group 1 had a higher mean due to outliers. The most common ART classes before switching to 2DR were Integrase Strand Transfer Inhibitor (INSTI)-based (48.97%), Non-Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitor (NNRTI)-based (22.73%), and Protease Inhibitor (PI)-based (16.53%). Distribution varied: Group 1: INSTI-based (53.13%), NNRTI-based (24.31%), and PI-based (15.04%); Group 2: INSTI-based (29.41%), PI-based (23.53%), and NNRTI-based (15.29%). After switching, Group 1 was on dolutegravir/lamivudine (79,33%) and dolutegravir/rilpivirine (20,67%); Group 2 mostly on INSTI-PI (52.81%), followed by NNRTI combinations, mainly with doravirine (19.10%). Duration of ART after switching was shorter in Group 1. Conclusion Italian PLHIV on 2DR fixed-dose combinations were younger, virologically suppressed individuals at baseline, with a shorter lead time from diagnosis, lower prevalence of resistance and lower comorbidity rate compared to those on free combinations. These findings underscore an unmet need for 2DR fixed-dose combinations, as the free combinations were predominantly utilized for more challenging populations.
Oct 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2379-7835.ijn-22-4316
E. Moro GuidoCorresponding author
Board of Directors of AIBLUD (Italian Association of Donor Human Milk Banks), Milan, Italy
Background Growing scientific evidence points to the benefits of human milk for the growth and development of a newborn. Compelling evidence has confirmed the benefits not only for full-term babies but also for preterm infants. Objective This survey was planned by the Italian Ministry of Health together with the Italian Association of Donor Human Milk Banks (AIBLUD) and aimed to evaluate the activity of human milk banks (HMBs) in Italy in the period 2018-2020, analyzing several items and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Following the two surveys performed in 2012 and 2016, a third survey was planned in the year 2021 to evaluate possible changes in the activity of the Human Milk Banks (HMBs) operating in Italy. A questionnaire was sent to all the 41 HMBs officially operating in Italy in the year 2021 with the purpose to obtain national data concerning milk banks activity, number of donors, volume of human milk collected, and other information related to the years 2018, 2019 and 2020. Additional questions related to the impact of the COVID-19 on the activity of HMBs in the year 2020 were included. Therefore the questionnaire proposed in this third survey collected fundamental data on the donation of human milk with the implications related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Results 90% of the banks (37/41) responded to this survey. The collected data confirm the results of the second survey (2016), with a high level of adherence to the Ministerial Guidelines and the AIBLUD recommendations. The application of the principles of the HACCP system continues to improve (89%), while in the last three years there has been a sharp decline in the home collection service for donor human milk (68%). This decline is mainly linked to the interruption of this service due to the limitations imposed by the pandemic. In 2020 (the year of the COVID-19 pandemic) there was a clear reduction in the number of donors with a return to the values of 2016. The volumes of milk collected, and the average duration of donation, however, remained high. The reasons linked to the reduction in the number of donors are described. Conclusion This survey underlines the high quality standard of Italian HMBs and the usefulness of this service for the national health policy. Despite the difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Italian HMBs have maintained an efficient and safe service and have guaranteed the collection of satisfactory volumes of donor milk. Lack of information represents the most important barrier to the donation of human milk.
Mar 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-22-4113
L ProvvidentiCorresponding author
Postgraduate School of Public Health, Department of MESVA, University of L’Aquila (Italy).
Objectives Our study aims to determine the trend of the antibody titer and assess the efficacy of the vaccine. Methods It was conducted on 983 healthcare professionals between 27 February 2020 and 22 October 2021 at the Local Health Authority (ASL) of Rieti. Workers voluntarily underwent serological testing before vaccination (T1), at least 15 days after vaccination (T2), and at least 150 days after vaccination (T3). We picked individuals who had received two doses of the vaccine. As for positivity, we assessed incidence – and therefore symptomatology – in three time intervals. We used a contingency tables for the analysis and tested the relation to the chi-square test and ANOVA test. Regarding differentials in terms of antibody capacity, we considered different time intervals: the methodological approach was the same. Results The average value of the dimeric serological testing at T1 was equal to 28.80 AU/mL, which increased to 220.55 AU/mL at T2, and then decreased to 143.62 AU/mL at T3 (P = 0.000). At T2, the number of people with a protective titer was equal to 95.96% of the total; at T3, it was equal to 96.39% (P = 0.019). Before the vaccination campaign, 75 workers tested positive (25 paucisymptoms, 4 severe symptoms). After vaccination, 14 workers tested positive: almost all were asymptomatic. Conclusion Vaccination determines a statistically significant variation of the average value of antibody titer, a statistically significant reduction of positive swab tests and a better prognosis.
Jan 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-21-3703
Nuti MarcoCorresponding author
Institute of Life Sciences, School of Avanced Studies Sant’Anna – Università di Pisa, 56124 Pisa (Italy)
Since a decade in Apulia, south-east of Italy, an increasing number of olive trees developed the quick decline syndrome (OQDS) leading to partial or total dessication of the canopy and subsequent death. Currently six million of olive trees show the symptoms of the decline, despite the mitigation measures which were undertaken to contrast the progression of the dessication. Associated with the syndrome, several phytopathogenic fungi were detected in the rhizosphere, endosphere and phyllosphere of the trees, along with the phytopathogenic bacterium Xylellafastidiosasubsp. pauca. Alongside, other pathogenic events were clearly identified, mostly defeating soil resilience: salinization, pollution, erosion, decline of biodiversity. Further events include delays in the adoption of appropriate mitigation measures not directed to challenge solely a bacterial pathogen, misuse of the territory, erratic agronomic management practices. The OQDS impacted also societal aspects. All the above concurrent causes strongly suggest that (1) the olive quick decline in Apulia is not a too symplistic epidemic outbreak due to a bacterium, but rather a syndemic outbreak formed by several diverse biotic and abiotic pathologies and (2) only a more holistic approach can help coping with the uncertainties and difficulties of an enduring co- existance with this syndemic events.
Apr 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-4538.jphi-20-3286
Mango LucioCorresponding author
Head for Higher Education in Healthcare, University of International Studies (UNINT) – Rome, Italy
This article describes access to health services among migrants in Italy, summarizing barriers, policy context, and recommendations to improve equitable care.
Mar 2022 DOI 10.14302/issn.2692-1537.ijcv-22-4108
Isea RaúlCorresponding author
Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados, Hoyo de la Puerta, Baruta, Venezuela.
In this work we present how it is possible to visualize the different coronavirus outbreaks from the calculation of the mantissa from the daily record of cases by Covid-19.This curve can also indicate the speed of propagation of the disease from the calculated infection rate. These conclusions are derived from the respective calculations in four different countries: Australia, Brazil, Italy, and Venezuela.
Apr 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-21-3782
Masoero GiorgioCorresponding author
Accademia di Agricoltura di Torino, Via A. Doria 10, 10123 Torino (Italy).
A systematic use of biofertilizers can improve both the quality of a farming system and the parameters of milk. Some issues related to biofertilization experiments on six farms in the Po Valley (NW Italy) involved in the production of milk from dairy cattle fed maize silage or grazed on hay produced from permanent meadows are reported in this paper. Biofertilized maize was found to lower the live stem pH by about 2.3%, and NIR spectroscopy foreshadowing major changes in the composition. Overall, the plant silage was improved in quantity (+10%) but also in quality, as shown by the delayed maturity stage of the leaves (crop maturity index -4%), the lower indigestible NDF content (-7%), and the higher digestible carbohydrates and protein in the whole plants. Such favorable feeding conditions, together with the improved palatability of the feed ration, boosted the nutrient values of the protein (+4.6%) and fat contents (+5.7%) in the milk. Moreover, the functional properties of the milk were ameliorated, as testified by the higher levels of vitamin A (+27%) and vitamin E (+25%) and the reduced levels of saturated fatty acids (-6%), especially myristic (-18%) and stearic (-32%) acids, while the unsaturated acids increased by 15%. As far as economy aspects are concerned, the biofertilization of maize for silage has led to consistent rewards pertaining to the marginal price of the milk, which in turn has led to a value chain increase of about 9%, because of the fields cultivation, but mainly of the cow transformation in milk quality issues. On another farm, intensive maize was substituted with permanent biofertilized meadows, over a greening path, and a + 17% value chain increase was obtained that already derived mainly from the best price for milk quality parameters. Such an evolutionary leap toward a new vision of sustainable agriculture for the environment and for animals, in which a better quality of products, animal welfare and company budget are combined with soil biofertilization, can be considered a bonanza.
Jan 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-20-3676
Masoero GiorgioCorresponding author
Accademia di Agricoltura di Torino, Via A. Doria 10, 10123 Torino (Italy).
There is currently a lack of rapid indirect analysis methods for the assessment of the effects of soil microbiota on vine production. Fifteen clusters of two Nebbiolo and Erbaluce varieties were identified in five vineyards belonging to a cooperative of winemakers in North West Italy, according to the differences in the NDVI index, as monitored by the Crop Monitoring OES system. The vineyards were surveyed in 2019 and the experimental monitoring of 75 vines was conducted in 2020. The first indirect method (Litterbag-NIRS) involved examining hay litterbags with a smart SCiOTM device. The average litterbag-NIR spectra of the clusters, as far as the yield is concerned, were closely fitted with the measured production yield, with an R2 cross-validated value of 0.91 in the Nebbiolo vines and 0.67 in the Erbaluce vines. The results in yield were accounted for by considering a few dominant variables in both vines, namely the microbic respiration of the soil and the crude protein of the litterbag (positive), opposed to the soil NO3--N and litterbag ADF (negative). The pruning wood was also closely correlated to the litterbag spectra. A second rapid method, foliar pH coupled with the NIR spectroscopy of the leaves, was then performed. The overall results predicted from the foliar NIRS were 0.73 for yield and 0.79 for the Canopy Cover. However, the most interesting result concerned the yield regressions on the foliar pH, which were clearly negative in both vines and of a similar amount: -5.15 kg/pH in Nebbiolo (R2 0.68) and -5.63 kg/pH (R2 0.23) in Erbaluce. Litterbag-NIRS, which shows a high predictive capacity, and foliar pH - with or without foliar-NIRS - are indirect and frugal methods that can be recommended for a rational assessment of the microbial soil fertility of vineyards.
Jan 2021 DOI 10.14302/issn.2692-1537.ijcv-20-3383
Zhao BinCorresponding author
School of Science, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
With the spread of the new coronavirus around the world, governments of various countries have begun to use the mathematical modeling method to construct some virus transmission models assessing the risks of spatial spread of the new coronavirus COVID-19, while carrying out epidemic prevention work, and then calculate the inflection point for better prevention and control of epidemic transmission. This work analyzes the spread of the new coronavirus in China, Italy, Germany, Spain, and France, and explores the quantitative relationship between the growth rate of the number of new coronavirus infections and time. In investigating the dynamics of a disease such as COVID-19, its mathematical representation can be constructed at many levels of details, guided by the questions the model tries to help answer. Mathematical sophistication may have to yield to a more pragmatic approach closer to the ability to make predictions that inform public health policies. Background In December 2019 , the first Chinese patients with pneumonia of unknown cause is China admitted to hospital in Wuhan, Hubei Jinyintan , since then, COVID-19 in the rapid expansion of China Wuhan, Hubei, in a few months time, COVID-19 is Soon it spread to a total of 34 provincial-level administrative regions in China and neighboring countries, and Hubei Province immediately became the hardest hit by the new coronavirus. In an emergency situation, we strive to establish an accurate infectious disease retardation growth model to predict the development and propagation of COVID-19, and on this basis, make some short-term effective predictions. The construction of this model has Relevant departments are helpful for the prevention and monitoring of the new coronavirus, and also strive for more time for the clinical trials of Chinese researchers and the research on vaccines against the virus to eliminate the new corona virus as soon as possible. Methods According to the original data change law, Establish a Logistic growth model, we collect and compare and integrate the spread of COVID-19 in China, Italy, France, Spain and Germany, record the virus transmission trend among people in each country and the protest measures of relevant government departments. Findings Based on the analysis results of the Logistic model model, the Logistic model has a good fitting effect on the actual cumulative number of confirmed cases, which can bring a better effect to the prediction of the epidemic situation and the prevention and control of the epidemic situation. Interpretation In the early stage of the epidemic, due to inadequate anti-epidemic measures in various countries, the epidemic situation in various countries spread rapidly. However, with the gradual understanding of COVI D -19, the epidemic situation began to be gradually controlled, thereby retarding growth
Oct 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2692-1537.ijcv-20-3587
Isea RaúlCorresponding author
Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados, Hoyo de la Puerta, Baruta. Venezuela.
The work analyzes the dynamics of transmission of infections by the new coronavirus in twelve European countries, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, Austria, Croatia, Denmark, Greece, Romania, Czech Republic, and Portugal, whose data from contagion were obtained by Johns Hopkins University until September 24, 2020. The study confirmed that this new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) surprised all the countries of the world that had to improve their public health policies to confront this disease according to the results obtained from the calculation of the mantissa. Although the countries were able to improve their policies after the first wave of contagion, Spain and France have the highest proportion of cases that stand out significantly with the rest of the countries in the second wave of infections that the world faces again. Likewise, the beginning of the epidemic outbreak was determined, which could help to track the spread of the disease through European countries (not the first case registered in each country), from which it can be inferred that the outbreak begins in Italy and later the rebound begins in Germany, France, and Spain. Within days, it significantly affects Greece and Austria, reaching Denmark, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Croatia. Finally, the number of people who must be vaccinated to counteract the advance of Covid-19 in these European countries was determined based on the calculation of the Effective Reproductive Number, Rt. The number of people that would have to be vaccinated in all these countries to counteract this disease sums up to 206.830.361.
Jul 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2692-1537.ijcv-20-3453
Isea RaulCorresponding author
Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados IDEA, Hoyo de la Puerta, Baruta, Venezuela
The present work analyzes the registered cases of Covid-19 throughout the world according the data registered at Johns Hopkins University. We selected 15 countries to analyze their data. In alphabetical order the countries are: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Portugal, Spain, United States and Venezuela. With this information, three different studies were carried out. First, the data was validated using Benford's Law which is based on forensic techniques that allow us to guarantee the integrity of the information. Later, we calculated the value of the basic reproduction number (R0), ie., the number of secondary host infections caused by one primary host infection that helps us to determine if a country has an outbreak of Covid-19. Finally, we show that the best representation for the change in the number of cases in the time is to calculate the mantissa value, ie., the floating number obtained from the logarithm of the data.
May 2020 DOI 10.14302/issn.2692-1537.ijcv-20-3376
Isea RaulCorresponding author
Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados IDEA, Hoyo de la Puerta, Baruta, Venezuela
The goal of this paper is to analyze the registered cases of people who have been infected with Covid-19 registered from throughout the world, using a digital forensic analysis technique that is based on Benford's Law. Twenty-three countries were randomly chosen for this analysis: China, India, Germany, Brazil, Venezuela, Netherlands, Italy, Colombia, Russia, Norway, South Africa, Portugal, Singapore, United Kingdom, Chile, Ecuador, Egypt, Denmark, Ireland, France, Belgium, Australia and Croatia.. We calculate on the p-values based on Pearson χ2 and Mantissa Arc Test according to the results obtained with the first digit. If any country fails these two tests, a third proof will be carried out based on the Freedman-Watson test. The results indicated that results from Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Denmark, Belgium and Chile are suspicions of data manipulation because the numbers fail the Benford’s Law according to the results obtained until April 30, 2020. However, it is necessary to carry out further studies in these countries in order to ensure that they countries manipulate or altered the information.
Dec 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-19-3116
Masoero GiorgioCorresponding author
Accademia di Agricoltura di Torino, Italy
Foliar pH is a specific multifaceted parameter that is sensitive to a deficit in soil water and to temperature variations. It also represents a tool that can be used to rapidly phenotype the symbiosis induced in several crops by bio-fertilizers containing Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi. Yearly decreases in foliar pH, which dropped from 3.73 in 2015 to 3.15 in 2017 and then stabilized at around 3.13, have been observed in an experimental vineyard near Torino (Italy) in six grapevine cultivars. In this paper, these curious, original results have been paired with the average sunspots of the 24th sun cycle, proximal to its endpoint. The paired values were highly correlated (r 0.95 P< 0.01), with close parabolic patterns. A lowering in foliar pH has been correlated with a modification of the leaf composition, as characterized by the higher hydration and reinforced wall. An increase in the circulating acidity of the plants has been hypothesized to interfere in a diminution in the general predisposition to block parasite attacks. From this perspective, the retrieval of several historic outbreaks and the long-term systematic monitoring of mud and Erwinia amylovora frequencies have suggested that the hypothesis that links the solar minima with dysfunctions of the plant-pest relationships cannot always be rejected. Cosmic influences pertaining to UV variations are poorly understood in plant physiopathology. Foliar pH appears to be a rapid and simple tool to unveil high-level mechanisms. It is this simple parameter that physiologists and geneticists, but also agronomists, are asked to consider.
May 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2639-3166.jar-19-2780
Masoero GiorgioCorresponding author
Accademia di Agricoltura di Torino, Italy
The inoculation of soil with a bio-fertilizer (BF), with arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi, characterizes a Symbiotic (S) agriculture mode, aimed at promoting the yield and health of crops through modifications in the rhizosphere as well as in the plant phenotype. The main objective of this study was to reduce the incidence of Olive Quick Decline Syndrome (OQDS, involving Xylella fastidiosasubsp.pauca) that afflicts the olive groves in Apulia (Italy). Non-inoculated control (C) plants were compared with Symbiotic (S) plants inoculated with 20 kg ha-1 of Micosat F ®, through a 15 cm deep scarification, in the groves of seven farms covering an area of 27 ha. In addition to a visual observation of 484 plants, to obtain a gradation of the disease severity, some objective rapid type methods were utilized to survey the plants and soil , namely leaf pH, NIR tomoscopy of the leaves, hay-litter-bag probes coupled with NIR spectroscopy and the prediction of soil induced respiration. The fingerprinting of the S and C types of leaves and litter-bags was ascertained by means of the use of a random forest algorithm in the classification matrices. The results on the symptoms appeared variable: they were significantly mitigated in two groves out of six, but they were aggravated in one. All the rapid measurements became essentials in a “holistic” model which was able to explain over 95% of the average mitigation / null / aggravation response to BF inoculation. The holistic model gathers differential and compositional analyses of the leaf (pH, crude protein, water) and of the soil (respiration), but depends mainly on the fingerprinting of the C and S leaves and litter-bags. Two keys were identified for a successful inoculation: a high degree of variability of the soil conditions permitting hospitality for the BF with enhancement of the microbial activity in the S soil (lowering the fingerprint of the control litter-bags) and homogeneity of the leaves (with increases in the fingerprint of the S leaves treated with BF). In short, the inoculation of diseased plants with one BF consortium is far from being the ultimate remedy to mitigate OQDS in all situations. Further studies are needed, at a field level, to clarify the soil hosting capacity and to define the mycorrhizal and / or endophytic * plant * pathogen interactions, even using rapid methods.
Apr 2019 DOI 10.14302/issn.2643-6655.jcap-19-2764
Emanuela ZappellaCorresponding author
Department of Human and Social Sciences, University of Bergamo, Italy
Entry into the world of work is an important moment for people with disabilities and for their professional inclusion. Using a case study, This research presents the project of school/work alternation carried out with a student with intellectual disability within a supermarket during the frequency of the last year in a higher institute in northern Italy. This study intends to describe the process and highlight the strategies used in this experience. The paper ends with an analysis of the factors that can favour a positive experience and which can be a starting-point for other, similar experiences. This experience shows that, with adequate training, people with intellectual disabilities can be protagonists of an experience that favors their well-being and social inclusion.
Sep 2018
Giammarino MauroCorresponding author
Department of Prevention, Asl CN 1, Veterinary Service, Area Animal Sanity, Piazza Luigi Gallo 1, 12035 Racconigi (CN), Italy.
Groups of wild juvenile and adult mallard ducks were captured, ringed, measured, while, juvenile ones already ringed, were remeasured on a subsequent recapture between March and September over a period of 7 years, at a site in Piedmont (Italy). Measurements cover both the rates and the pattern of development of 4 morphological features (head-and-bill-length, bill-length, tarsus-length, and weight). Juveniles were examined and their measurements were compared with the asymptotic value obtained from adults’ measures. A functional data analysis growth model was fitted to data and it yielded plausible quantitative estimates. Tarsus appears to reach the asymptote faster than the other morphological features in this population. Finally, a functional principal components analysis was performed to discriminate sex in growing Mallard ducks.
Jan 2018 DOI 10.14302/issn.2641-5526.jmid-17-1891
Attanasio RobertoCorresponding author
Endocrinology, Galeazzi Institute IRCCS, Milan, Italy
Background Conventional tools for medical education are burdened by many drawbacks. Textbooks become rapidly outdated, meeting attendance is expensive, and results reported in journals are not easily suitable for clinical practice. Uptodate and Endotext are excellent online tools, but they have been developed for a clinical context far different from that of our country. Methodology Italian Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AME) charged a task force aiming to develop an educational tool specifically tailored for Italian clinical endocrinologists. Required characteristics were clinical approach, modularity, continuous updating, full online availability (even by mobile devices), open sections and sections for registered members only, opportunity for individualization, indexing and search engine to facilitate browsing. Starting from an open-source platform, Joomla, several changes were implemented. Results Three editors, 2 central editorial secretaries, 30 section coordinators and over 350 authors have been involved in the writing of 21 different sections covering all fields of endocrine and metabolic diseases. The access to Endowiki is free for AME members and is fully open in sections for patients. All readers are requested to serve as referee, pointing to mistakes and need for revision. The system is attended daily by a mean of 250 individuals. Conclusions Endowiki stands alone as an opportunity for medical education in Italy. The big challenges will be the continuous updating and the link to the national certified system for CME.
Jun 2014 DOI 10.14302/issn.2374-9431.jbd-13-330
Grappasonni IolandaCorresponding author
University of Camerino. School of Pharmacy. Via Madonna delle Carceri,
Background: Health practitioners of different disciplines (physicians, paramedic personnel, pharmacists) should possess adequate ICT (Information and Communication Technology) skills and practical competence on these technologies. Pharmacy practice requires a relevant flow of information, collection and handling of which could be facilitated by ICT. The correct use of ICT requires a proper knowledge by professionals offering a public service. The purpose of this paper was to assess basic informatics background and computer uses in pharmacists practicing in Italy, with the aim to identify educational interventions for increasing their informatics abilities. Methods: A questionnaire was proposed to pharmacists working in Italian community pharmacies. The survey was articulated into 35 questions concerning computer basic knowledge, ICT facilities, computer skills, habits, and uses in pharmacy practice. Results: The questionnaire was completed by ~45% (No. 224) of responders, the 96.9% of which used computer. Only 7.8% of interviewed people employed e-mail to communicate with health authorities and less than 2% used it to be in contact with physicians or other health professionals. Less than 40% used ICT for training courses. The results revealed a relevant percentage (90.8%) of self-learners to computer use, while only 9.2% was trained by specific courses. Conclusion: Basic knowledge of community pharmacists on ICT technological infrastructure is quite low. Although pharmacists play an essential role in health services, they have apparently limited computer skills. This suggests the need of educational and training efforts for enlarging computer and ICT resources competent use in daily pharmacy practice.