scholarly journals Augmenting Surveillance to Minimize the Burden of Norovirus-Like Illness in Ontario: Using TeleHealth Ontario Data to Detect the Onset of Community Activity

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie L. Hughes ◽  
Andrew Papadopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Early Warning System ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Lost Productivity ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
The Common

Norovirus is the leading cause of gastroenteritis worldwide, resulting in millions of infections annually. In comparison to other viral illnesses, the total number of norovirus cases per year is second only to the common cold. While infection is relatively short-lived, the illness causes a high economic impact due to lost productivity and healthcare expenditures, thus requiring action to reduce the burden. In Ontario, surveillance is predominantly laboratory-based, leaving much room for improvement. This project will utilize syndromic surveillance to create an early warning system for early norovirus detection; TeleHealth Ontario call data will be analyzed to identify the beginning of the winter vomiting season in conjunction with laboratory data to confirm the season. From this, public health authorities can notify hospitals, long-term care homes, and other vulnerable populations of impending outbreaks.

scholarly journals Early warning and rapid public health response to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks in long-term care facilities (LTCF) by monitoring SARS-CoV-2 RNA in LTCF site-specific sewage samples and assessment of antibodies response in this population: prospective study protocol

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. e052282
Author(s):  
Bonita E Lee ◽  
Christopher Sikora ◽  
Douglas Faulder ◽  
Eleanor Risling ◽  
Lorie A Little ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Early Warning ◽  
Early Warning System ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Warning System ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Care Facilities

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic has an excessive impact on residents in long-term care facilities (LTCF), causing high morbidity and mortality. Early detection of presymptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases supports the timely implementation of effective outbreak control measures but repetitive screening of residents and staff incurs costs and discomfort. Administration of vaccines is key to controlling the pandemic but the robustness and longevity of the antibody response, correlation of neutralising antibodies with commercial antibody assays, and the efficacy of current vaccines for emerging COVID-19 variants require further study. We propose to monitor SARS-CoV-2 in site-specific sewage as an early warning system for COVID-19 in LTCF and to study the immune response of the staff and residents in LTCF to COVID-19 vaccines.Methods and analysisThe study includes two parts: (1) detection and quantification of SARS-CoV-2 in LTCF site-specific sewage samples using a molecular assay followed by notification of Public Health within 24 hours as an early warning system for appropriate outbreak investigation and control measures and cost–benefit analyses of the system and (2) testing for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among staff and residents in LTCF at various time points before and after COVID-19 vaccination using commercial assays and neutralising antibody testing performed at a reference laboratory.Ethics and disseminationEthics approval was obtained from the University of Alberta Health Research Ethics Board with considerations to minimise risk and discomforts for the participants. Early recognition of a COVID-19 case in an LTCF might prevent further transmission in residents and staff. There was no direct benefit identified to the participants of the immunity study. Anticipated dissemination of information includes a summary report to the immunity study participants, sharing of study data with the scientific community through the Canadian COVID-19 Immunity Task Force, and prompt dissemination of study results in meeting abstracts and manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals.

Epidemiological and genetic characteristics of norovirus outbreaks in long-term care facilities, 2003–2006

2010 ◽  
Vol 139 (2) ◽  
pp. 286-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. A. ROSENTHAL ◽  
L. E. LEE ◽  
B. A. J. VERMEULEN ◽  
K. HEDBERG ◽  
W. E. KEENE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Care ◽  
Laboratory Data ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Genetic Characteristics ◽  
Duration Of Illness ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
The Impact

SUMMARYTo identify the epidemiological and genetic characteristics of norovirus (NoV) outbreaks and estimate the impact of NoV infections in an older population, we analysed epidemiological and laboratory data collected using standardized methods from long-term care facilities (LTCFs) during 2003–2006. Faecal specimens were tested for NoV by real-time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction. NoV strains were genotyped by sequencing. Of the 234 acute gastroenteritis (AGE) outbreaks reported, 163 (70%) were caused by NoV. The annual attack rate of outbreak-associated NoV infection in LTCF residents was 4%, with a case-hospitalization rate of 3·1% and a case-fatality rate of 0·5%. GII.4 strains accounted for 84% of NoV outbreaks. Median duration of illness was longer for GII.4 infections than non-GII.4 infections (33 vs. 24 h, P<0·001). Emerging GII.4 strains (Hunter/2004, Minerva/2006b, Terneuzen/2006a) gradually replaced the previously dominant strain (Farmington Hills/2002) during 2004–2006. NoV GII.4 strains are now associated with the majority of AGE outbreaks in LTCFs and prolonged illness in Oregon.

scholarly journals Preventing COVID-19 spread in closed facilities by regular testing of employees—An efficient intervention in long-term care facilities and prisons?

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0249588
Author(s):  
Henri Christian Junior Tsoungui Obama ◽  
Nessma Adil Mahmoud Yousif ◽  
Looli Alawam Nemer ◽  
Pierre Marie Ngougoue Ngougoue ◽  
Gideon Akumah Ngwa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Care ◽  
Risk Group ◽  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
The U.S

Background Different levels of control measures were introduced to contain the global COVID-19 pandemic, many of which have been controversial, particularly the comprehensive use of diagnostic tests. Regular testing of high-risk individuals (pre-existing conditions, older than 60 years of age) has been suggested by public health authorities. The WHO suggested the use of routine screening of residents, employees, and visitors of long-term care facilities (LTCF) to protect the resident risk group. Similar suggestions have been made by the WHO for other closed facilities including incarceration facilities (e.g., prisons or jails), wherein parts of the U.S., accelerated release of approved inmates is taken as a measure to mitigate COVID-19. Methods and findings Here, the simulation model underlying the pandemic preparedness tool CovidSim 1.1 (http://covidsim.eu/) is extended to investigate the effect of regularly testing of employees to protect immobile resident risk groups in closed facilities. The reduction in the number of infections and deaths within the risk group is investigated. Our simulations are adjusted to reflect the situation of LTCFs in Germany, and incarceration facilities in the U.S. COVID-19 spreads in closed facilities due to contact with infected employees even under strict confinement of visitors in a pandemic scenario without targeted protective measures. Testing is only effective in conjunction with targeted contact reduction between the closed facility and the outside world—and will be most inefficient under strategies aiming for herd immunity. The frequency of testing, the quality of tests, and the waiting time for obtaining test results have noticeable effects. The exact reduction in the number of cases depends on disease prevalence in the population and the levels of contact reductions. Testing every 5 days with a good quality test and a processing time of 24 hours can lead up to a 40% reduction in the number of infections. However, the effects of testing vary substantially among types of closed facilities and can even be counterproductive in U.S. IFs. Conclusions The introduction of COVID-19 in closed facilities is unavoidable without a thorough screening of persons that can introduce the disease into the facility. Regular testing of employees in closed facilities can contribute to reducing the number of infections there, but is only meaningful as an accompanying measure, whose economic benefit needs to be assessed carefully.

The use of preventable hospitalization for monitoring the performance of local health authorities in long-term care

Health Policy ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 122 (3) ◽  
pp. 309-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andelija Arandelovic ◽  
Anna Acampora ◽  
Bruno Federico ◽  
Francesco Profili ◽  
Paolo Francesconi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Care ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Preventable Hospitalization ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Local Health Authorities

Coronavirus (2019-nCov) Wuhan

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
Jonathan Temte
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Term Care ◽  
The Common

Coronaviruses are an incredibly diverse family of viruses, found in many animal species, and are commonly encountered in clinical practice during the cold and flu season.  We often encounter the common coronaviruses (HKU1, NL63, 229E and OC43) in our surveillance and epidemiological studies in schools, clinics and long-term care settings.

scholarly journals Monitoring the performance of local health authorities in start of long term care program in Toscana

2016 ◽  
Vol 26 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
G Damiani ◽  
A Acampora ◽  
A Arandelovic ◽  
B Federico ◽  
F Profili ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Care ◽  
Care Program ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Local Health Authorities

scholarly journals Preventing COVID-19 spread in closed facilities by regular testing of employees – an efficient intervention in long-term care facilities and prisons

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Christian Tsoungui Obama ◽  
M. Y. Nessma Adil ◽  
N. Looli Alawam ◽  
Pierre M. Ngougoue N. ◽  
Gideon A. Ngwa ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Care ◽  
Risk Group ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Federal Republic Of Germany ◽  
Economic Gain ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Public Health Authorities

AbstractBackgroundDraconic control measures were introduced to contain the global COVID-19 pandemic, many of which have been controversial, particularly the comprehensive use of diagnostic tests. Regular testing of high-risk individuals (pre-existing conditions, older than 60 years of age) has been suggested by public health authorities. The WHO suggested the use of routine screening of residents, employees, and visitors of long-term care facilities (LTCF) to protect the resident risk group. Similar suggestions have been made by the WHO for other closed facilities including incarceration facilities (e.g., prisons or jails), where in parts of the US, accelerated release of approved inmates is taken as a measure to mitigate COVID-19.Methods and findingsHere, the simulation model underlying the pandemic preparedness tool CovidSim 1.1 (http://covidsim.eu/) is extended to investigate the effect of regularly testing of employees in order to protect immobile resident risk groups in closed facilities. The reduction in the number of infections and deaths within the risk group are investigated as well as the potential economic gain resulting from savings in COVID-19 related treatment costs in comparison to costs resulting from the testing interventions. Our simulations are adjusted to reflect the situation of LTCFs in the Federal Republic of Germany.The probability is nearly one that COVID-19 spreads into closed facilities due to contact with infected employees even under strict confinement of visitors in a pandemic scenario without targeted protective measures. Regular screening of all employees by PCR tests provides a significant reduction of COVID-19 cases and related deaths in LTCFs. While the frequency of testing (testing rate) and the quality of tests have noticeable effects, the waiting time for obtaining test results (ranging from 12 up to 96 hours) hardly impacts the outcome. The results suggest that testing every two weeks with low-quality tests and a processing time of up to 96 hours yields a strong reduction in the number of cases. Rough estimates suggest a significant economic gain.ConclusionsThe introduction of COVID-19 in closed facilities is unavoidable without thorough screening of persons that can introduce the disease into the facility. These measures provide an economically meaningful way to protect vulnerable risk groups characterized by an elevated risk of severe infections in closed facilities, in which contact-reducing measures are difficult to implement due to imminent unavoidable close human-to-human contacts.

scholarly journals Surveillance for outbreaks of gastroenteritis in elderly long-term care facilities in France, November 2010 to May 2012

2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (29) ◽  
Author(s):  
A S Barret ◽  
N Jourdan-da Silva ◽  
K Ambert-Balay ◽  
G Delmas ◽  
A Bone ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Care ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
First Case ◽  
Rapid Control ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
And Control

This article describes outbreaks of gastroenteritis in elderly long-term care facilities (LTCF) in France from November 2010 to May 2012 reported through the surveillance system for gastroenteritis outbreaks in LTCF. A total of 1,072 outbreaks were reported, causing 26,551 episodes of illness and 60 deaths. The median attack rate (AR) among residents was 32%. Norovirus and person-to-person transmission were the most frequently reported aetiology and mode of transmission. Control measures were implemented in 1,054 (98%) outbreaks and for 928 outbreaks, the timing of such measures could be inferred. Of these, 799 (86%) had put control measures into effect within three days of the occurrence of the first case. Outbreaks of gastroenteritis in LTCF cause substantial morbidity and mortality among elderly people in France. LTCF are encouraged to develop infection prevention and control plans and to notify any gastroenteritis outbreak to health authorities to ensure rapid control.

scholarly journals The impact of COVID-19 on Long Term Care Facilities (LTCFs) of an Italian Province: a cohort study and a retrospective analysis of observed vs. expected mortality

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Tramarin ◽  
Nicola Gennaro ◽  
Giancarlo Dal Grande ◽  
Luciana Bragagnolo ◽  
Maria Rosa Carta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Retrospective Analysis ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Mitigation Measures ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Expected Mortality ◽  
The Impact

AbstractIn Italy, as in other countries, Long Term Care Facilities (LTCFs) have seen a disproportionally high number of deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Veneto region was one of the first areas of the country where the virus spread rapidly particularly in the LTCFs. As it became evident that LTCs were the epicenter of the pandemic, health authorities of the Vicenza province adopted a plan, which included an epidemiological investigation in a case study facility (CSF) and a retrospective analysis to estimate the impact of COVID-19 in terms of mortality. Combining retrospective data and a prospective cohort study in the CSF we provided a tentative estimate of the impact of COVID-19 on LTCFs. We found an age-gradient in all variables explored. An observed mortality higher 60% than 2019 was found in those LTCF reporting COVID-19 cases. Our findings suggest the need to adopt and maintain strict mitigation measures in LTCFs in the future dynamics of the epidemic.

Working With Resistance and Encouraging Buy-In to New Programs

2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-21
Author(s):  
Sara Joffe
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Care ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Optimal Outcomes ◽  
Speech Language Pathologist

In order to best meet the needs of older residents in long-term care settings, clinicians often develop programs designed to streamline and improve care. However, many individuals are reluctant to embrace change. This article will discuss strategies that the speech-language pathologist (SLP) can use to assess and address the source of resistance to new programs and thereby facilitate optimal outcomes.

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