Population Risk of Syringe Reuse: Estimating the Probability of Transmitting Bloodborne Disease

2010 ◽  
Vol 31 (7) ◽  
pp. 748-754 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher Sikora ◽  
A. Uma Chandran ◽  
A. Mark Joffe ◽  
David Johnson ◽  
Marcia Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Medical Officer ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Public Health Action ◽  
B Virus ◽  
Health Action ◽  
Injection Techniques ◽  
Risk Of Disease ◽  
Bloodborne Pathogen ◽  
Probability Range

Background.In 2008, the Medical Officer of Health at Alberta Health Services (Edmonton, Canada) was notified that, in some practice settings, a syringe was used to administer medication through the side port of an intravenous circuit and then the syringe, with residual drug, was used to administer medication to other patients in the same manner. This practice has been implicated in several outbreaks of bloodborne infection in hospital and clinic settings.Methods.A risk assessment model was developed to predict the risk of a patient contracting a bloodborne viral infection from the practice. The risk of transmission was defined as the product of 5 factors: (1) the population prevalence of a specific bloodborne pathogen, (2) the probability of finding a viral bloodborne pathogen in an intravenous circuit, (3) the rate of syringe reuse, (4) the probability of causing disease given a bloodborne pathogen exposure, and (5) the susceptibility of the exposed person.Results.The risk was modeled first with consistent use of the proximal port of the intravenous circuit. The risk of transmission of hepatitis B virus was approximately 12–53 transmission events per 1,000,000 exposure events for a range of practice probabilities (ie, frequency of the risk practice) from 20% to 80%, respectively. The risk of transmission of hepatitis C virus was approximately 1.0–4.3 transmission events per 1,000,000 exposure events for the same practice probability range, and the risk of transmission of human immunodeficiency virus was approximately 0.03–0.15 transmission events per 1,000,000 exposure events for the same practice probability range. The use of the distal port was associated with a 10-fold decrease in the risk.Conclusions.Practitioners must practice safe, aseptic injection techniques. The model presented here can be used to estimate the risk of disease transmission in situations where reuse has occurred and can serve as a framework for informing public health action.

How to Assess Risk of Disease Transmission to Patients When There Is a Failure to Follow Recommended Disinfection and Sterilization Guidelines

2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-155 ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Rutala ◽  
David J. Weber
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Scientific Literature ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Risk Assessment Model ◽  
The Public ◽  
Potential Adverse Event ◽  
Risk Of Disease ◽  
Critical Components ◽  
High Level

Background.Disinfection and sterilization are critical components of infection control. Unfortunately, breaches of disinfection and sterilization guidelines are not uncommon.Objective.To describe a method for evaluating a potential breach of guidelines for high-level disinfection and sterilization of medical devices.Methods.The appropriate scientific literature was reviewed to determine the frequency of failures of compliance. A risk assessment model was constructed.Results.A 14-step protocol was constructed to aid infection control professionals in the evaluation of potential disinfection and sterilization failures. In addition, a model is presented for aiding in determining how patients should be notified of the potential adverse event. Sample statements and letters are provided for communicating with the public and individual patients.Conclusion.Use of a protocol can guide an institution in managing potential disinfection and sterilization failures.

Estimating the number of cases during COVID-19 pandemics using a web-based tool: first week results of “COVID-19 TRENDS” social media project in the Araba-Alava province in Basque country, Spain. (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ignacio Garitano ◽  
Manuel Linares ◽  
Laura Santos ◽  
Ruth Gil ◽  
Elena Lapuente ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Media ◽  
Response Rate ◽  
Basque Country ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Public Health Action ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Health Action ◽  
Estimate Number ◽  
Media Project

UNSTRUCTURED On 28th February a case of COVID-19 was declared in Araba-Álava province, Spain. In Spain, a confinement and movement restrictions were established by Spanish Government at 14th March 2020. We implemented a web-based tool to estimate number of cases during the pandemic. We present the results in Áraba-Álava province. We reached a response rate of 10,3% out a 331.549 population. We found that 22,4 % fulfilled the case definition. This tool rendered useful to inform public health action.

scholarly journals Reconciling Epidemiology’s Aspirations and Capabilities

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A Savitz
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Public Health Action ◽  
Action Current ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
The Face ◽  
Health Action ◽  
New Challenges ◽  
Health Applications

Abstract Interpreting the results of epidemiologic studies calls for objectivity and rigorous scrutiny, acknowledging the limitations that temper the applicability of the findings to public health action. Current trends have posed new challenges to balancing goal of scientific objectivity and validity with public health applications. The ongoing tension between epidemiology’s aspirations and capability has several sources: the need to overpromise in research proposals, compromising methodologic rigor because of public health importance, defending findings in the face of hostile critics, and appealing to core constituencies who have specific expectations from the research.

scholarly journals Livestock movement informs the risk of disease spread in traditional production systems in East Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Divine Ekwem ◽  
Thomas A. Morrison ◽  
Richard Reeve ◽  
Jessica Enright ◽  
Joram Buza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Herd Size ◽  
Transmission Risk ◽  
Disease Spread ◽  
Transmission Potential ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Scales ◽  
Transmission Distance ◽  
Risk Of Disease

AbstractIn Africa, livestock are important to local and national economies, but their productivity is constrained by infectious diseases. Comprehensive information on livestock movements and contacts is required to devise appropriate disease control strategies; yet, understanding contact risk in systems where herds mix extensively, and where different pathogens can be transmitted at different spatial and temporal scales, remains a major challenge. We deployed Global Positioning System collars on cattle in 52 herds in a traditional agropastoral system in western Serengeti, Tanzania, to understand fine-scale movements and between-herd contacts, and to identify locations of greatest interaction between herds. We examined contact across spatiotemporal scales relevant to different disease transmission scenarios. Daily cattle movements increased with herd size and rainfall. Generally, contact between herds was greatest away from households, during periods with low rainfall and in locations close to dipping points. We demonstrate how movements and contacts affect the risk of disease spread. For example, transmission risk is relatively sensitive to the survival time of different pathogens in the environment, and less sensitive to transmission distance, at least over the range of the spatiotemporal definitions of contacts that we explored. We identify times and locations of greatest disease transmission potential and that could be targeted through tailored control strategies.

scholarly journals Risk factors, symptom reporting, healthcare-seeking behaviour and adherence to public health guidance: protocol for Virus Watch, a prospective community cohort study

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. e048042
Author(s):  
Andrew Hayward ◽  
Ellen Fragaszy ◽  
Jana Kovar ◽  
Vincent Nguyen ◽  
Sarah Beale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Advisory Group ◽  
Antibody Testing ◽  
Public Health Action ◽  
Nasal Swabs ◽  
Health Action ◽  
Minority Ethnic

IntroductionThe coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has caused significant global mortality and impacted lives around the world. Virus Watch aims to provide evidence on which public health approaches are most likely to be effective in reducing transmission and impact of the virus, and will investigate community incidence, symptom profiles and transmission of COVID-19 in relation to population movement and behaviours.Methods and analysisVirus Watch is a household community cohort study of acute respiratory infections in England and Wales and will run from June 2020 to August 2021. The study aims to recruit 50 000 people, including 12 500 from minority ethnic backgrounds, for an online survey cohort and monthly antibody testing using home fingerprick test kits. Nested within this larger study will be a subcohort of 10 000 individuals, including 3000 people from minority ethnic backgrounds. This cohort of 10 000 people will have full blood serology taken between October 2020 and January 2021 and repeat serology between May 2021 and August 2021. Participants will also post self-administered nasal swabs for PCR assays of SARS-CoV-2 and will follow one of three different PCR testing schedules based on symptoms.Ethics and disseminationThis study has been approved by the Hampstead National Health Service (NHS) Health Research Authority Ethics Committee (ethics approval number 20/HRA/2320). We are monitoring participant queries and using these to refine methodology where necessary, and are providing summaries and policy briefings of our preliminary findings to inform public health action by working through our partnerships with our study advisory group, Public Health England, NHS and government scientific advisory panels.

scholarly journals Time to dismiss the idea of a structural fix within government? An analysis of intersectoral action for health in Danish municipalities

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (22_suppl) ◽  
pp. 48-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ditte H. Holt ◽  
Gemma Carey ◽  
Morten H. Rod
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Boundary Spanning ◽  
Governance Structures ◽  
Intersectoral Action ◽  
Structural Reorganization ◽  
Organizational Boundaries ◽  
Public Health Action ◽  
Process Consulting ◽  
Health Action

Aims: This paper examines the role of organizational structure within government(s) in attempts to implement intersectoral action for health in Danish municipalities. We discuss the implications of structural reorganization and the governance structures that are established in order to ensure coordination and integration between policy sectors. Methods: The paper is based on 49 interviews with civil servants from health and non-health sectors of 10 municipalities. Based on participants’ experiences, cases have been described and analyzed in an iterative process consulting the literature on Health in All Policies and joined-up government. Results: Continuous and frequent processes of reorganizing were widespread in the municipalities. However, they appeared to have little effect on policy change. The two most common governance structures established to transcend organizational boundaries were the central unit and the intersectoral committee. According to the experiences of participants, paradoxically both of these organizational solutions tend to reproduce the organizational problems they are intended to overcome. Even if structural reorganization may succeed in dissolving some sector boundaries, it will inevitably create new ones. Conclusions: It is time to dismiss the idea that intersectoral action for health can be achieved by means of a structural fix. Rather than rearranging organizational boundaries it may be more useful to seek to manage the silos which exist in any organization, e.g. by promoting awareness of their implications for public health action and by enhancing the boundary spanning skills of public health officers.

Compelling Evidence for Public Health Action to Reduce Salt Intake

2010 ◽  
Vol 362 (7) ◽  
pp. 650-652 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence J. Appel ◽  
Cheryl A.M. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Salt Intake ◽  
Compelling Evidence ◽  
Public Health Action ◽  
Health Action

Characteristics of diluted-stored and post-thawed semen of Hutsul stallions

2021 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Motility ◽  
Disease Transmission ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Genetic Material ◽  
Sperm Bank ◽  
Resource Protection ◽  
Frozen Semen ◽  
Genetic Reserve ◽  
Basic Parameters ◽  
Risk Of Disease

Abstract The use of frozen semen lowers the risk of disease transmission, eliminates geographical limitations and supports the implementation of genetic resource protection programs. However, due to the very rare use of frozen semen from Hutsul stallions, their genetic material is not secured in sperm banks, and very little information is available about their semen, including its suitability for cryopreservation, and sperm survival rates after thawing. The aim of this study was to analyse basic parameters such as sperm motility, vitality and morphology in diluted-stored and post-thawed Hutsul semen, using a CASA system. There were no differences in sperm motility (P = 0.3372) or morphology between the groups, although the progressive motility was higher in thawed semen (P = 0.0151), while the sperm vitality was higher in diluted-stored semen (P = 0.00517). This study demonstrates that semen from Hutsul horses is suitable for cryopreservation, thus supporting the creation of a sperm bank as a genetic reserve for representatives of this breed.

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