scholarly journals Results and Impact of Intensive SARS-CoV-2 Testing in a High Volume, Outpatient Radiation Oncology Clinic in a Pandemic Hotspot

Author(s):  
Sean M McBride ◽  
Kimberly Bundick ◽  
Harper Hubbeling ◽  
Morgan Freret ◽  
Leslie Modlin ◽  
...  

Background: In an attempt to reduce interruptions in radiation treatment, our department implemented universal SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing during the peak of the New York City COVID-19 epidemic. Methods: Starting 4/18/20, outpatients coming into the Department of Radiation Oncology for either simulation or brachytherapy were required to undergo PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2. Starting on 5/6/20, patients were offered simultaneous SARS CoV-2 IgG antibody testing. Results: Between 4/18/20-6/25/20, 1360 patients underwent 1,401 outpatient screening visits (Table 1). Of the patients screened, 411 were screened between 4/18/20 and 5/6/20 (Phase 1) with PCR testing: 13 (3.1%) patients were PCR positive. From 5/7/20 to 6/25/20, 990 patients were scheduled for both PCR and antibody testing (Phase 2), including 41 previously screened in Phase 1. Of those with known antibody status (n=952), 5.5% were seropositive. After 5/21/20, no screened patient (n=605) tested PCR positive. In the month prior to screening (3/17/20-4/19/20), 24 of 625 patients initiating external radiation had treatment interrupted due to COVID-19 infection (3.8%) vs 7 of 600 patients (1.1%) in the month post screening (4/20/20-5/24/20) (p=0.002). Conclusions: State-wide mitigation efforts, coupled with intensive departmental screening, helped prevent interruptions in radiation during the COVID-19 epidemic that could have compromised treatment efficacy.

2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ohnmar Thwin ◽  
Nadja Grobe ◽  
Xiaoling (Janice) Ye ◽  
Priscila Preciado Rojas ◽  
Leticia M Tapia Silva ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Aims Dialysis patients are at higher risk for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Longevity of antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 infection remains unclear. It is reported that maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients can mount an antibody response that is similar in intensity and timing to the non-dialysis population. We aim to investigate the prevalence and persistence of antibodies in hemodialysis patients. Method We measured IgG and IgM antibodies in MHD patients as part of a quality improvement project. Four New York City dialysis clinics participated in this study. Strict policy of RT-PCR testing was implemented in clinics for patients with signs and symptoms of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Initial antibody testing was done on June 10 and July 13, 2020 (phase 1) and retesting was done for previously positive patients between December 9 and 17, 2020 (phase 2). Upon obtaining verbal consent, 3.5 ml of pre-dialysis blood samples were taken via vascular access. SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were determined using the emergency use authorized Diazyme DZ-Lite SARS-CoV-2 IgM / IgG CLIA assays with 100% sensitivity and 98% specificity. Detection of formed immune-complexes is achieved with N-(4-amino-butyl)-N-ethyl-isoluminol; the luminescence signal is reported as units per ml (AU/ml), values ≥ 1.00 AU/ml are considered as “reactive” and < 1.00 AU/ml as “non-reactive.” Results A total of 429 MHD patients were studied in phase 1. Antibodies were present in 130 (30.3%) and only 55 patients with Covid-19 diagnosis confirmed by RT-PCR test were reactive for IgG antibodies. The time to antibody testing was 73 days (median 77; range 30-111) days. In the phase 2 antibody testing, IgG antibodies were only detected in 47 patients (85.5%) 242 days (median 245, range 204 to 268) after clinical diagnosis of Covid-19. Between the two phases of antibody testing, the luminescence signal declined by 40.9 AU/mL (95% confidence interval 31.5 to 50.3) from 54.1±45.3 to 13.2±20.9 AU/mL (P<0.0001 by paired t-test; Figure 1). In univariate logistic regression, a higher number of days between clinical diagnosis of COVID-19 and the second antibody measurement was associated with a lower seropositivity rate (odds ratio 0.929, 95% confidence interval 0.864 to 0.998, P=0.044). Antibody persistence was not associated with age, gender, race, and ethnicity. Conclusion We observed that about 6 out of 7 MHD patients maintain SARS-CoV-2 antibodies over 6-9 months but there is a significant decline of IgG level. The time between clinical diagnosis and IgG testing was associated with IgG decline. Follow up study to understand antibody dynamics in MHD population is a crucial step once vaccines become available.


Author(s):  
Jian Li ◽  
Yuming Wang ◽  
Jing Wu ◽  
Jing-Wen Ai ◽  
Hao-Cheng Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Public health interventions have been implemented to contain the outbreak of COVID-19 in New York City. However, the assessment of those interventions, e.g. social distancing, cloth face covering based on the real-world data from filed study is lacking. The SEIR compartmental model was used to evaluate the social distancing and cloth face covering effect on the daily culminative laboratory confirmed cases in NYC, and COVID-19 transmissibility. The latter was measured by Rt reproduction numbers in three phases which were based on two interventions in implemented in the timeline. The transmissibility decreased from phase 1 to phase 3. The Initial, R0 was 4.60 in Phase 1 without any intervention. After social distancing, the Rt value was reduced by 68%, while after the mask recommendation, it was further reduced by ~60%. Interventions resulted in significant reduction of confirmed case numbers, relative to predicted values based on SEIR model without intervention. Our findings highlight the effectiveness of social distancing and cloth face coverings in slowing down the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in NYC.


Author(s):  
Mayce Mansour ◽  
Emily Levin ◽  
Kimberly Muellers ◽  
Kimberly Stone ◽  
Rao Mendu ◽  
...  

Background: SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing is important for understanding immunity prevalence, and may have implications for healthcare workers (HCW) during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Methods: We conducted immunologic testing of healthcare workers to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG in this population. HCW were advised to wait at least two weeks from time of symptom onset or suspected exposure before undergoing testing. All participants were self-reported asymptomatic for at least three days at the time of testing. Results: Two hundred eighty-five samples were collected from March 24, 2020 to April 4, 2020. The average age of participants was 38 years (range 18-84), and 54% were male. Thirty-three percept tested IgG positive, 3% tested weakly positive, and 64% tested negative. Neither age nor sex was associated with antibody development. Conclusion: Thirty-six percent of HCW had IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, reflecting the high exposure of inpatient and ambulatory frontline staff to this viral illness, most of whom had minimal symptoms and were working in the weeks preceding testing. While we continue to recommend standard protective precautions per CDC guidelines for all HCW, HCW with SARS-CoV-2 IgG may become our safest frontline providers as we learn if our IgG antibodies confer immunity. Knowing IgG antibody status may ease concerns regarding personal risk as this pandemic continues.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Leightley ◽  
Valentina Vitiello ◽  
Alice Wickersham ◽  
Katrina A.S. Davis ◽  
Gabriella Bergin-Cartwright ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveTo assess the feasibility of home antibody testing as part of large-scale study, the King’s College London Coronavirus Health and Experiences of Colleagues at King’s (KCL CHECK).MethodsParticipants of the KCL CHECK study were sent a SureScreen Diagnostics COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Test Cassette to complete at home in June 2020 (phase 1) and September 2020 (phase 2). Participants were asked to upload a test result image to a study website. Test result images and sociodemographic information were analysed by the research team.ResultsA total of n=2716 participants enrolled in the KCL CHECK study, with n=2003 (73.7%) and n=1825 (69.3%) consenting and responding to phase 1 and 2. Of these, n=1882 (93.9%; phase 1) and n=1675 (91.8%; phase 2) returned a valid result. n=123 (6.5%; phase 1) and n=91 (5.4%; phase 2) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies. A total of n=1488 participants provided a result in both phases, with n=57 (3.8%) testing positive for SARS- CoV-2 antibodies across both phases, suggesting a reduction in the number of positive antibody results over time. Initial comparisons showed variation by age group, gender and clinical role.ConclusionsOur study highlights the feasibility of rapid, repeated and low-cost SARS-CoV-2 serological testing without the need for face-to-face contact.What is already known about this subject?Higher education institutions have a duty of care to minimise the spread and transmission of COVID-19 in its campuses, and among staff and students. The reopening of higher education buildings and campuses has brought about a mass movement of students, academics and support staff from across the UK. Serological antibody studies can assist by highlighting groups of people and behaviours associated with high risk of COVID-19.What are the new findings?We report a framework for SARS-CoV-2 serological antibody testing in an occupational group of postgraduate research students and current members of staff at King’s College London. Over two phases of data collection, 6.5% (phase 1) and 5.4% (phase 2) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, with only 3.8% testing positive for antibodies in both phases, suggesting a reduction in positive antibody results over time.How might this impact on policy or clinical practice in the foreseeable future?Our study highlights the feasibility of rapidly deploying low-cost and repeatable SARS-CoV-2 serological testing, without the need for face-to-face contact, to support the higher education system of the UK.


2020 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 115128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Josh Reifer ◽  
Nosson Hayum ◽  
Benzion Heszkel ◽  
Ikey Klagsbald ◽  
Vincent A. Streva

Healthcare ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 534 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Pang ◽  
Eric P. Stahl ◽  
Kana Fujikura ◽  
Michelle Chen ◽  
Weijia Li ◽  
...  

(1) Background: This study sought to explore how the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic affected the echocardiography (TTE) laboratory operations at a high volume medical center in New York City. Changes in cardiac imaging study volume, turn-around time, and abnormal findings were analyzed and compared to a pre-pandemic period. (2) Methods: Volume of all cardiac imaging studies and TTE reports between 11 March 2020 to 5 May 2020 and the same calendar period in 2019 were retrospectively identified and compared. (3) Results: During the pandemic, our center experienced a 46.72% reduction in TTEs, 82.47% reduction in transesophageal echocardiograms, 83.16% reduction in stress echo, 70.32% reduction in nuclear tests, 46.25% reduction in calcium score, 73.91% reduction in coronary computed tomography angiography, and 87.23% reduction in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. TTE findings were overall similar between 2020 and 2019 (all p ≥ 0.05), except for a significantly higher right ventricular systolic pressure in 2020 (39.8 ± 14.2 vs. 34.6 ± 11.2 mmHg, p = 0.012). (4) Conclusions: Despite encountering an influx of critically ill patients, our hospital center experienced a reduction in the number of cardiac imaging studies, which likely represents a change in both patient mindset and physician management approach.


2018 ◽  
Vol 29 (6-7) ◽  
pp. 663-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaeok Kim ◽  
Preeti Chauhan ◽  
Olive Lu ◽  
Meredith Patten ◽  
Sandra Susan Smith

Pretrial detention makes up the majority of jail admissions, but little is known about this high-volume population. The current study fills this gap by examining the pretrial detention population in New York City and assesses their pretrial readmissions over a 10-year follow-up period. While the number of individuals detained pretrial has consistently decreased since 1995, the prevalence and the frequency of pretrial readmissions remain high: About 60% of the sample was readmitted at least once within 10 years and they were readmitted on average 3 times. A negative binomial model predicting readmission counts for felony and misdemeanor admissions found that males, non-Hispanic Blacks, and younger individuals were more frequently readmitted pretrial. Self-reported drug use and prior criminal records were associated with higher readmission counts. We also found that charge and discharge types predicted readmission counts. Findings suggest the importance of earlier intervention and developing targeted strategies to reduce further readmissions.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander D Bryan ◽  
Kathleen Tatem ◽  
Jillian Diuguid-Gerber ◽  
Caroline Cooke ◽  
Anya Romanoff ◽  
...  

Objective: Estimate the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among New York City Health + Hospitals healthcare workers, and identify demographic and occupational factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthcare workers. Methods: This was an observational, cross-sectional study using data from SARS-CoV-2 serological tests accompanied by a demographic and occupational survey administered to healthcare workers. Participants were employed by New York City Health + Hospitals (NYC H+H) and either completed serologic testing at NYC H+H between April 30 and June 30, 2020, or completed SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing outside of NYC H+H and were able to self-report results. Results: Seven hundred twenty-seven survey respondents were included in analysis. Participants had a mean age of 46 years (SD= 12.19) and 543 (75%) were women. Two hundred fourteen (29%) participants tested positive or reported testing positive for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies (IgG+). Characteristics associated with positive SARS-CoV-2 serostatus were Black race (25% IgG+ vs. 15% IgG-, p=0.001), having someone in the household with COVID symptoms (49% IgG+ vs. 21% IgG-, p<0.001), or having a confirmed COVID-19 case in the household (25% IgG+ vs 5% IgG-, p<0.001). Characteristics associated with negative SARS-CoV-2 serostatus included working on a COVID patient floor (27% IgG+ vs. 36% IgG-, p=0.02), working in the ICU (20% IgG+ vs. 28% IgG-, p=0.03), or having close contact with a patient with COVID-19 (51% IgG+ vs. 62% IgG-, p=0.03). Conclusions: Results underscore the significance of community factors and inequities might have on SARS-CoV-2 exposure for healthcare workers.


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