scholarly journals Severity of Respiratory Infections due to SARS-CoV-2 in Working Population: Age and Body Mass Index Outweigh ABO Blood Group

Author(s):  
Johannes Schetelig ◽  
Henning Baldauf ◽  
Sarah Wendler ◽  
Falk Heidenreich ◽  
Ruben Real ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundWith increasing rates of SARS-CoV-2 infections and the intention to avoid a lock-down, the risks for the working population are of great interest. No large studies have been conducted which allow risk assessment for this population.MethodsDKMS is a non-profit donor center for stem cell donation and reaches out to registered volunteers between 18 and 61 years of age. To identify risk factors for severe COVID-19 courses in this population we performed a cross-sectional study. Self-reported data on oro- or nasopharyngeal swabs, risk factors, symptoms and treatment were collected with a health questionnaire and linked to existing genetic data. We fitted multivariable logistic regression models for the risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2, risk of severe respiratory infection and risk of hospitalization.FindingsOf 4,440,895 contacted volunteers 924,660 (20.8%) participated in the study. Among 157,544 participants tested, 7,948 reported SARS-CoV-2 detection. Of those, 947 participants (11.9%) reported an asymptomatic course, 5,014 (63.1%) mild/moderate respiratory infections, and 1,987 (25%) severe respiratory tract infections. In total, 286 participants (3.6%) were hospitalized for respiratory tract infections. The risk of hospitalization in comparison to a 20-year old person of normal weight was 2.1-fold higher (95%-CI, 1.2-3.69, p=0.01) for a person of same age with a BMI between 35-40 kg/m2, it was 5.33-fold higher (95%-CI, 2.92-9.70, p<0.001) for a 55-year old person with normal weight and 11.2-fold higher (95%-CI, 10.1-14.6, p<0.001) for a 55-year old person with a BMI between 35-40 kg/m2. Blood group A was associated with a 1.15-fold higher risk for contracting SARS-CoV-2 (95%-CI 1.08-1.22, p<0.001) than blood group O but did not impact COVID-19 severity.InterpretationIn this relatively healthy population, the risk for hospitalizations due to SARS-CoV-2 infections was moderate. Age and BMI were major risk factors. These data may help to tailor risk-stratified preventive measures.FundingDKMS initiated and conducted this study. The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) supported the study by a research grant (COVID-19 call (202), reference number 01KI20177).

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sotiria G. Panagakou ◽  
Vassiliki Papaevangelou ◽  
Adamos Chadjipanayis ◽  
George A. Syrogiannopoulos ◽  
Maria Theodoridou ◽  
...  

Background. Upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) are common in children. The cause of URTIs is usually viral, but parents’ attitudes often contribute to inappropriate prescription of antibiotics, promoting antibiotic resistance. The objective of this study was to identify possible risk factors associated with antibiotic misuse in Greece, a country with high levels of antibiotic use and antibiotic resistance. Methods. A knowledge-attitude-practice (KAP) questionnaire was developed and distributed to Greek parents caring for children who were 5-6 years old, between January and July of the same school year. Results. The sample of the study contained 5312 parents from all geographic areas of Greece. The risk factors of being a father, having low education, having immigrant status, being a single parent, having low income, having <2 or >3 children, living in the islands, and being without experience in recurrent URTIs were significantly associated to inadequate knowledge, inappropriate attitudes, and wrong practices. Conclusions. This study has identified the main groups of parents that should be targeted in future intervention programs.


Viruses ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 331
Author(s):  
Rowena Crow ◽  
Kuswandewi Mutyara ◽  
Dwi Agustian ◽  
Cissy B. Kartasasmita ◽  
Eric A. F. Simões

Although risk factors for hospitalization from a respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) are well known, RSV lower respiratory tract infections (LRIs) in the community are much less studied or understood, especially in developing countries. In a prospective, cohort study we studied factors predisposing Indonesian infants and children under 5 years of age to developing RSV LRIs. Subjects were enrolled in two cohorts: a birth cohort and a cross-sectional cohort of children <48 months of age. Subjects were visited weekly at home to identify any LRI, using the World Health Organization’s criteria. RSV etiology was determined through analysis of nasal washings by enzyme immunoassay and polymerase chain reaction. Risk factors for the development of the first documented RSV LRI were identified by multivariate analysis using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard modeling. Of the 2014 children studied, 999 were enrolled within 30 days of birth. There were 149 first episodes of an RSV. Risk factors for an RSV LRI were poverty (p < 0.01), use of kerosene as a cooking fuel (p < 0.05), and household ownership of rabbits and chickens (p < 0.01). Our findings suggested that in a middle-income country such as Indonesia, with a substantial burden of RSV morbidity and mortality, lower socioeconomic status, environmental air quality, and animal exposure are predisposing factors for developing an RSV LRI.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cheng Lei ◽  
Lisong Yang ◽  
Cheong Tat Lou ◽  
Fan Yang ◽  
Kin Ian SiTou ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Acute respiratory infections (ARIs) are among the leading causes of hospitalization in children. Understanding the local dominant viral etiologies is important to inform infection control practices and clinical management. This study aimed to investigate the viral etiology and epidemiology of respiratory infections among pediatric inpatients in Macao. Methods A retrospective study using electronic health records between 2014 and 2017 at Kiang Wu Hospital was performed. Nasopharyngeal swab specimens were obtained from hospitalized children aged 13 years or younger with respiratory tract diseases. xMAP multiplex assays were employed to detect respiratory agents including 10 respiratory viruses. Data were analyzed to describe the frequency and seasonality. Results Of the 4880 children enrolled in the study, 3767 (77.1%) were positive for at least one of the 13 viral pathogens tested, of which 2707 (55.5%) being male and 2635 (70.0%) under 2 years old. Among the positive results, there were 3091 (82.0%) single infections and 676 (18.0%) multiple infections. The predominant viruses included human rhinovirus/enterovirus (HRV/EV 27.4%), adenovirus (ADV, 15.8%), respiratory syncytial virus B (RSVB, 7.8%) and respiratory syncytial virus A (RSVA, 7.8%). The detection of viral infection was the most prevalent in autumn (960/1176, 81.6%), followed by spring (1095/1406, 77.9%), winter (768/992, 77.4%), and summer (944/1306, 72.3%), with HRV/EV and ADV being most commonly detected throughout the 4 years of study period. The detection rate of viral infection was highest among ARI patients presented with croup (123/141, 87.2%), followed by lower respiratory tract infection (1924/2356, 81.7%) and upper respiratory tract infection (1720/2383, 72.2%). FluA, FluB and ADV were positive factors for upper respiratory tract infections. On the other hand, infection with RSVA, RSVB, PIV3, PIV4, HMPV, and EV/RHV were positively associated with lower respiratory tract infections; and PIV1, PIV2, and PIV3 were positively associated with croup. Conclusions This is the first study in Macao to determine the viral etiology and epidemiology of pediatric patients hospitalized for ARIs. The study findings can contribute to the awareness of pathogen, appropriate preventative measure, accurate diagnosis, and proper clinical management of respiratory viral infections among children in Macao.


2019 ◽  
Vol 113 (8) ◽  
pp. 446-452
Author(s):  
Damilola M Oladele ◽  
Dimeji P Oladele ◽  
Rasheedat M Ibraheem ◽  
Mohammed B Abdulkadir ◽  
Rasaki Adewole Raheem ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRIs) especially severe ALRIs, constitute a global high burden of morbidity and mortality in children <5 y of age and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) has been documented to a play a major aetiological role. However, Nigerian reports on severe childhood RSV ALRIs are rare and most reports are old. With recent advances in RSV preventive strategy, arises the need for a recent appraisal of RSV infection in children with severe ALRI. The current study thus set out to determine the prevalence of RSV infection among hospitalized children <5 y of age and describe the related social determinants. Methods We performed a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted over 1 y of 120 children, ages 2–59 months, diagnosed with ALRI. Relevant data were obtained and an antigen detection assay was used for viral studies. Results The prevalence of RSV infection was 34.2% and its peak was in the rainy months. The proportion of infants in the RSV-positive group was significantly higher than that in the RSV-negative group (82.9% vs 54.4%; p=0.002). These findings were largely consistent with those of earlier reports. Conclusions RSV has remained a common cause of severe ALRI in infants, especially during the rainy months in Nigeria. It is thus suggested that more effort be focused towards implementing the current global recommendations for the prevention of RSV-associated LRI, particularly in infants.


Author(s):  
Divya Bade ◽  
Shivashankaramurthy K. G. ◽  
Kiran L. J. ◽  
Raghuprasada M. S. ◽  
Harishkumar V. S. ◽  
...  

Background: Upper respiratory tract infections are one of the leading causes of hospital visits worldwide. Judicious use of antibiotics is challenging for upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs) in developing countries like India. This leads to inappropriate use of antibiotics causing many dreaded conditions like antibacterial resistance among other things. Hence rational use of drugs, mainly antibacterial, is a priority to reduce the burden of treatment failure. The objective of this study is to study the prescribing patterns and rationality of drugs prescribed in the management of URTIs.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Data was collected from records of 300 outpatients clinically diagnosed as URTIs from SSIMS and RC Hospital, Davangere between January 2015 and June 2016. The prescribing patterns, approval status and listing of drugs in World Health Organization (WHO) essential medicines list/ National List of Essential Medicines (NLEM) were analysed. The data was presented as percentages, mean and standard deviations.Results: A total of 300 cases were studied. Among these, acute pharyngitis (29%) and acute sinusitis (26%) are the most common infections. Of the 300 cases studied, 283 (94.3%) were prescribed antimicrobials. Of the total 740 medications prescribed, 393 (53.1%) were fixed-dose combinations (FDCs). A total of 724 medications (97.8%) were approved by Drugs Controller General of India and 248 (33.5%) by Food and Drug Administration. Only 5.8% of the prescribed drugs have been listed in WHO’s and NLEM. The most common class of antibacterials prescribed was Beta-lactams.Conclusions: Oral formulations were preferred over parenteral formulations and FDCs were preferred over single drug formulations. Beta-lactams comprised the major class of antibacterial prescribed.


2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 8-13
Author(s):  
O. A Orlova ◽  
V. G Akimkin

Rationale The relevance of ventilator-associated respiratory tract infections in severe injury patients (SIP) is associated with both features of causative pathogens and the initial severity of the state of patients. Among causative pathogens nosocomial flora is dominant. Purpose - to perform an analysis of the microbiological monitoring of ventilator-associated respiratory tract infections in SIP. The analysis was based on the results of a prospective epidemiological, clinical, and instrumental study of 100 SIP with ventilator-associated respiratory tract infections, stayed in the surgical intensive care unit. The proportion of ventilator-associated respiratory infections in the structure of nosocomial infections in these patients is between 90 - 95%, at that there was revealed the prevalence of nosocomial pneumonia (61%). Ventilator-associated respiratory tract infection most commonly occurs during the first 10 days of mechanical ventilation. The prevailing flora was represented by Gram negative Acinetobacter baumamnnii (40.3 ± 2.1%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (38.4% ± 3.2%). Isolated microorganisms possessed multiple antibiotic resistance, with the greatest extent to aminoglycosides - 69.5%, fluoroquinolones - 40.3%, penicillin - 37.6%; cephalosporins (third generation) - 33.8%. There is noted marked preponderance of microbial associations compared with monocultures 57.1 ± 5.3%.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Li ◽  
Lanfang Min ◽  
Xin Zhang

Abstract Background There is a lack of studies comparing PCT, CRP and WBC levels in the differential diagnosis of acute bacterial, viral, and mycoplasmal respiratory tract infections. It is necessary to explore the correlation between above markers and different types of ARTI. Methods 108 children with confirmed bacterial infection were regarded as group A, 116 children with virus infection were regarded as group B, and 122 children with mycoplasmal infection were regarded as group C. The levels of PCT, CRP and WBC of the three groups were detected and compared. Results The levels of PCT, CRP and WBC in group A were significantly higher than those in groups B and C (p < 0.05). The positive rate of combined detection of PCT, CRP and WBC was significant higher than that of single detection. There was no significant difference in PCT, CRP and WBC levels between the group of G+ bacterial infection and G− bacterial infection (p > 0.05). ROC curve results showed that the AUC of PCT, CRP and WBC for the diagnosis of bacterial respiratory infections were 0.65, 0.55, and 0.58, respectively. Conclusions PCT, CRP and WBC can be combined as effective indicators for the identification of acute bacterial or no-bacterial infections in children. The levels of PCT and CRP have higher differential diagnostic value than that of WBC in infection, and the combined examination of the three is more valuable in clinic.


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