scholarly journals Effectiveness of Preventive Measures in Keeping Low Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Health Care Workers in a Referral Children’s Hospital in Southern Italy

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-124
Author(s):  
Désirée Caselli ◽  
Daniela Loconsole ◽  
Rita Dario ◽  
Maria Chironna ◽  
Maurizio Aricò
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Children's Hospital ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Children’S Hospital ◽  
Second Wave

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic now represents a major threat to public health. Health care workers (HCW) are exposed to biological risk. Little is currently known about the risk of HCW operating in pediatric wards for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim is to assess the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCW in a third-level children’s hospital in Southern Italy. An observational cohort study of all asymptomatic HCW (physician, technicians, nurses, and logistic and support operators) was conducted. HCW were screened, on a voluntary basis, for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR on nasopharyngeal swab performed during the first wave of COVID-19. The study was then repeated, with the same modalities, at a 7-month interval, during the “second wave” of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the initial screening between 7 and 24 April 2020, 525 HCW were tested. None of them tested positive. At the repeated screening, conducted between 9 and 20 November 2020, 627 HCW were tested, including 61 additional ones resulting from COVID-emergency recruitment. At this second screening, eight subjects (1.3%) tested positive, thus being diagnosed as asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2. They were one physician, five nurses, and two HCW from the logistic/support services. They were employed in eight different wards/services. In all cases, the epidemiological investigation showed convincing evidence that the infection was acquired through social contacts. The study revealed a very low circulation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCW tested with RT-PCR. All the infections documented in the second wave of epidemic of SARS-CoV-2 were acquired outside of the workplace, confirming that in a pediatric hospital setting, HCW education, correct use of personal protective equipment, and separation of the COVID-patient pathway and staff flow may minimize the risk derived from occupational exposure.

scholarly journals Impact of Full Vaccination with mRNA BNT162b2 on SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Genomic and Subgenomic Viral RNAs Detection in Nasopharyngeal Swab and Saliva of Health Care Workers

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1738
Author(s):  
Michela Deiana ◽  
Antonio Mori ◽  
Chiara Piubelli ◽  
Francesca Perandin ◽  
Davide Treggiari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Low Frequency ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Subgenomic Rna ◽  
Viral Rnas ◽  
Social Settings ◽  
Care Workers

SARS-CoV-2 infection was monitored in 1898 health care workers (HCWs) after receiving full vaccination with BNT162b2. Untill 30 June 2021, 10 HCWs tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 using real time RT-PCR, resulting in a 4-month cumulative incidence of 0.005%. The infection was mildly symptomatic in six (60%) and asymptomatic in four (40%) individuals. Among the infected HCWs, eight consenting individuals provided paired NPS and saliva during the course of infection, for the purpose of the analysis performed in the present study. Genomic and subgenomic viral RNAs were investigated using real-time RT-PCR in both biological specimens. The temporal profile of viral load was measured using ddPCR. Viral mutations were also analysed. Subgenomic viral RNA was detected in 8/8 (100%) NPS and in 6/8 (75%) saliva specimens at the baseline. The expression of subgenomic RNA was observed for up to 7 days in 3/8 (38%) symptomatic cases. Moreover, concordance was observed between NPS and saliva in the detection of viral mutations, and both N501Y and 69/70del (associated with the B.1.1.7 variant) were detected in the majority 6/8 (75%) of subjects, while the K417T mutation (associated with the P.1-type variants) was detected in 2/8 (25%) individuals. Overall, our findings report a low frequency of infected HCWs after full vaccination. It is, therefore, important to monitor the vaccinees in order to identify asymptomatic infected individuals. Saliva can be a surrogate for SARS-CoV-2 surveillance, particularly in social settings such as hospitals.

scholarly journals COVID ‐19 in health‐care workers: Testing and outcomes at a Victorian tertiary children's hospital

2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (10) ◽  
pp. 1642-1644
Author(s):  
Laila F Ibrahim ◽  
Daryl R Cheng ◽  
Franz E Babl ◽  
Penelope A Bryant ◽  
Nigel W Crawford ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Children's Hospital ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Children’S Hospital

scholarly journals Evaluation of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and their patterns of response in health care workers and general population at a tertiary care Centre

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 217-225
Author(s):  
Srihita Mahavadi ◽  
Deepika Gujjarlapudi ◽  
Veeraiah Namburu ◽  
Naveed Hassan ◽  
Nageshwar Reddy Duvvur
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
General Population ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Tertiary Care Centre ◽  
Post Vaccination ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Second Wave ◽  
Serology Testing

SARS-CoV-2 (previously called 2019-nCoV), and was named in February 2020 as COVID-19 by the WHO. Estimate the seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in health care workers (HCW) and general population in the first and second wave and assess the pattern of antibody response in HCW with COVID-19 infected and non-infected over pre and post-vaccination. This was a cohort observational retrospective study done to analyse the seroprevalence in HCW from July-September 2020, in the general population in the first wave (December 2020–February 2021) and second wave (March–September 2021). SARS-CoV-2 testing by RT-PCR (QIAGEN Company). Testing for quantitative IgG and IgM (Abbott) antibodies, Total Antibodies (Roche), Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG RBD(Roche), and Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG S1/S2 (Diasorin XL), to assess the pattern of antibody responses categorized as baseline (before the first dose), 14 days after 1st dose, before 2nd dose (45 days post first dose), 14 days post-second dose. Among 1340 HCW, 1268 underwent RT-PCR testing, 540 serology testing and 431 underwent both testing. We identified 164 of 1268 positive RT-PCR and using serology testing 229 of 540 were seropositive. High seropositivity was observed in age group 26-45 years (44.9%) HCW, in males (65.9%), nurses (47.3%), and ward staff (48.6%). High seroprevalence in general population-76.07% in the 2nd wave compared to 1st wave (44.67%). SARS-CoV-2 antibodies showed gender associated seroprevalence and higher immune response was observed in COVID-19 infected than in non-infected HCW pre- and post-vaccination.

scholarly journals Promotion of influenza vaccination among health care workers: findings from a tertiary care children’s hospital in Italy

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Cozza ◽  
Valeria Alfonsi ◽  
Maria Cristina Rota ◽  
Valerio Paolini ◽  
Marta Luisa Ciofi degli Atti
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Influenza Vaccination ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Children's Hospital ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Children’S Hospital

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR Positivity and Antibody Prevalence among Asymptomatic Hospital-Based Health Care Workers

2021 ◽  
pp. 104794
Author(s):  
Christine C. Johnson ◽  
Chad M. Coleman ◽  
Alexandra R. Sitarik ◽  
Joyce E. Leon ◽  
Robert J. Tibbetts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Antibody Prevalence ◽  
Care Workers

scholarly journals Effect of Implementing Simulation Education on Health Care Worker Comfort With Nasopharyngeal Swabbing for COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 163 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle E. Mark ◽  
Phillip LoSavio ◽  
Inna Husain ◽  
Peter Papagiannopoulos ◽  
Pete S. Batra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Simulation Training ◽  
False Negative ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Level Of Evidence ◽  
Improve Health Care ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Simulation Based ◽  
Improve Health

Objective To determine if rapid implementation of simulation training for the nasopharyngeal swab procedure can increase provider confidence regarding procedure competency. Methods A simulation training exercise was designed as a departmental initiative to improve competency performing nasopharyngeal swabs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sixty-one health care workers attended teaching sessions led by the Department of Otorhinolaryngology on proper nasopharyngeal swab technique. After a brief lecture, participants practiced their swab technique using a high-fidelity airway simulation model. Pre- and postintervention self-evaluations were measured via standardized clinical competency questionnaires on a 5-point Likert scale ranging from “No knowledge, unable to perform” up to “Highly knowledgeable and confident, independent.” Results Forty-six participants in this study submitted pre- and postintervention self-assessments. Postintervention scores improved on average 1.41 points (95% CI, 1.10-1.73) out of 5 from a mean score of 3.13 to 4.54 ( P < .0001). This reflects a large effect size with a Glass’s delta value of 1.3. Discussion Lecture coupled with simulation-based teaching can significantly improve health care workers’ confidence in performing nasopharyngeal swabs. Proper training for frontline workers performing swabs for COVID-19 is essential to improving testing accuracy and can be achieved in a simple and timely manner. Implications for Practice To meet the testing needs of the growing pandemic, many health care workers who are unfamiliar with nasopharyngeal swabs have been asked to perform this test. Simulation-based teaching sessions may improve health care workers’ confidence and help prevent false-negative results. This intervention is easily reproducible in any setting where frequent nasopharyngeal swab testing occurs. Level of Evidence/Study Design Prospective cohort study.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2–Specific Neutralizing Antibody Responses in Norwegian Health Care Workers After the First Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic: A Prospective Cohort Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mai-Chi Trieu ◽  
Amit Bansal ◽  
Anders Madsen ◽  
Fan Zhou ◽  
Marianne Sævik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Prospective Cohort Study ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Prospective Cohort ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Patient Exposure ◽  
Specific Antibodies ◽  
Care Workers

Abstract Background During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, many countries experienced infection in health care workers (HCW) due to overburdened health care systems. Whether infected HCW acquire protective immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is unclear. Methods In a Norwegian prospective cohort study, we enrolled 607 HCW before and after the first COVID-19 wave. Exposure history, COVID-19–like symptoms, and serum samples were collected. SARS-CoV-2–specific antibodies were characterized by spike-protein IgG/IgM/IgA enzyme-linked immunosorbent and live-virus neutralization assays. Results Spike-specific IgG/IgM/IgA antibodies increased after the first wave in HCW with, but not in HCW without, COVID-19 patient exposure. Thirty-two HCW (5.3%) had spike-specific antibodies (11 seroconverted with ≥4-fold increase, 21 were seropositive at baseline). Neutralizing antibodies were found in 11 HCW that seroconverted, of whom 4 (36.4%) were asymptomatic. Ninety-seven HCW were tested by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) during follow-up; 8 were positive (7 seroconverted, 1 had undetectable antibodies). Conclusions We found increases in SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies in infected HCW, especially after COVID-19 patient exposure. Our data show a low number of SARS-CoV-2–seropositive HCW in a low-prevalence setting; however, the proportion of seropositivity was higher than RT-PCR positivity, highlighting the importance of antibody testing.

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