scholarly journals Symptom reporting in over 1 million people: community detection of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joshua Elliott ◽  
Matthew Whitaker ◽  
Barbara Bodinier ◽  
Steven Riley ◽  
Helen Ward ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Identification ◽  
Current Approach ◽  
Appetite Loss ◽  
Sense Of Smell ◽  
Symptom Profiles ◽  
New Variant ◽  
Selection Approach ◽  
Community Transmission ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Smell Loss

SummaryControl of the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic requires rapid identification and isolation of infected individuals and their contacts. Community testing in England (Pillar 2) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is reserved for those reporting at least one of four ‘classic’ COVID-19 symptoms (loss or change of sense of smell, loss or change of sense of taste, fever, new continuous cough).1 Detection of positive cases in the community might be improved by including additional symptoms and their combinations. We used data from the REal-time Assessment of Community Transmission-1 (REACT-1) study to investigate symptom profiles for PCR positivity at different ages. Among rounds 2–7 (June to December 2020), an age-stratified, variable selection approach stably selected chills (all ages), headache (5–17 years), appetite loss (18–54 and 55+ years) and muscle aches (18–54 years) as jointly and positively predictive of PCR positivity together with the classic four symptoms. Between round 7 (November to December 2020) and round 8 (January 2021) when new variant B.1.1.7 predominated, only loss or change of sense of smell (more predictive in round 7) and (borderline) new persistent cough (more predictive in round 8) differed between cases. At any level of PCR testing, triage based on the symptoms identified here would result in more cases detected than the current approach.

scholarly journals A comparative evaluation of two chromogenic media for surveillance of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales with non-carbapenemase-producing or carbapenemase-producing strains other than blaKPC: blaGES-5, blaNDM-1 or blaVIM-2

2019 ◽  
Vol 43 (3) ◽  
pp. 173-176
Author(s):  
Chang-Hun Park
Keyword(s):  
Rapid Detection ◽  
Comparative Evaluation ◽  
Susceptibility Testing ◽  
Rapid Identification ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Contact Precaution ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Carbapenem Resistant ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Abstract Background Infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CREs) are an emerging problem associated with high rates of morbidity and mortality. CREs are divided into two categories (carbapenemase-producing [CP] CRE and non-CP CRE). The most prevalent carbapenemase produced by Enterobacterales is Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) in Korea. Rapid identification of CREs is clinically important in infection control precaution. We compared the performance of two chromogenic media (chromID CARBA agar and CHROMagar KPC agar) for non-CP CREs or CP CREs with blaGES-5, blaNDM-1 or blaVIM-2 in a Korean hospital. Methods The study was carried out during a 3-month period from April to June 2017 during the surveillance program for CRE colonization. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were performed at the Korean Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Results A total of 45 rectal swabs from 42 hospitalized patients were examined. Sensitivity of both chromID CARBA and CHROMagar KPC were 100% for CP CREs; and 50% and 100% for non-CP CREs, respectively. Specificity of chromID CARBA and CHROMagar KPC were 89.2% and 70.3% for CP CRE, respectively; and 76.9% and 66.7% for non-CP CRE, respectively. Conclusions The CHROMagar KPC is useful to monitor non-CP and CP CREs. The chromID CARBA is efficient for rapid detection of CP CREs requiring high contact precaution.

scholarly journals Effects of COVID-19 on Sense of Smell: Human Factors/Ergonomics Considerations

2021 ◽  
pp. 001872082199016
Author(s):  
E. Leslie Cameron ◽  
Per Møller ◽  
Keith S. Karn
Keyword(s):  
Human Factors ◽  
Olfactory Dysfunction ◽  
System Communication ◽  
Human System ◽  
Sense Of Smell ◽  
Primary Means ◽  
Human Sense ◽  
Smell Loss

Objective We review the effects of COVID-19 on the human sense of smell (olfaction) and discuss implications for human-system interactions. We emphasize how critical smell is and how the widespread loss of smell due to COVID-19 will impact human-system interaction. Background COVID-19 reduces the sense of smell in people who contract the disease. Thus far, olfaction has received relatively little attention from human factors/ergonomics professionals. While smell is not a primary means of human-system communication, humans rely on smell in many important ways related to both quality of life and safety. Method We briefly review and synthesize the rapidly expanding literature through September 2020 on the topic of smell loss caused by COVID-19. We interpret findings in terms of their relevance to human factors/ergonomics researchers and practitioners. Results Since March 2020 dozens of articles have been published that report smell loss in COVID-19 patients. The prevalence and duration of COVID-19-related smell loss is still under investigation, but the available data suggest that it may leave many people with long-term deficits and distortions in sense of smell. Conclusion We suggest that the human factors/ergonomics community could become more aware of the importance of the sense of smell and focus on accommodating the increasing number of people with reduced olfactory performance. Application We present examples of how olfaction can augment human-system communication and how human factors/ergonomics professionals might accommodate people with olfactory dysfunction. While seemingly at odds, both of these goals can be achieved.

scholarly journals Methods for identification of causative agents of dangerous and particularly dangerous infections based on the analysis of nucleic acids

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (4) ◽  
pp. 22-35
Keyword(s):  
Nucleic Acids ◽  
Dna Amplification ◽  
Rapid Identification ◽  
Chain Reaction ◽  
Biological Contamination ◽  
Laboratory Facilities ◽  
Trained Personnel ◽  
Causative Agents ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Goals And Objectives

One of the main tasks of the NBC Protection Troops is accurate and rapid identification of infectious disease causative agents in case of establishing the fact of biological contamination. Different methods based on the analysis of nucleic acids are most preferred for this purpose. Most of them are based on DNA amplification by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The result is detected by electrophoretic separation of amplification products, as well as by registration of endpoint fluorescent signal (FLASH modification) or in real time (PCR-RT). Other methods of DNA amplification, such as ligase chain reaction (LCR) and isothermal amplification, are also applicable in practice. The article also describes some identification methods based on nucleic acid sequencing: multilocus sequence typing (MLST) method, sequencing of individual genes and complete genome sequencing. It is concluded that the choice of identification method should be based on the goals and objectives, laboratory facilities, availability of trained personnel and funding levels. Despite the fact that the most informative are methods based on sequencing nucleotide sequences, their implementation in the field is difficult so far due to technological requirements

Treatment of smell loss with systemic methylprednisolone

2012 ◽  
Vol 50 (3) ◽  
pp. 284-289
Author(s):  
V.A. Schriever ◽  
C. Merkonidis ◽  
N. Gupta ◽  
C. Hummel ◽  
T. Hummel
Keyword(s):  
Patient Population ◽  
Current Approach ◽  
Olfactory Dysfunction ◽  
Systemic Corticosteroids ◽  
Large Patient ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Large Patient Population ◽  
Randomized Control ◽  
Smell Loss ◽  
Tdi Score

Background and aim: Olfactory dysfunction is a common complaint in a large number of people. As the aetiologies of olfactory dysfunction vary greatly so do the treatment approaches. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate treatment with systemic corticosteroids, particularly focusing on its effectiveness on the different olfactory dysfunction aetiologies. Although a prospective randomized control trail is preferred for such an investigation, using the current approach, we were able to test a very large patient population. Material and methods: A total of 425 patients with olfactory dysfunction were treated with systemic corticosteroids for 14 days. Olfactory performance was measured using the `Sniffin` Sticks` battery before and after the treatment. Results: The treatment with systemic corticosteroids significantly increased the performance on the TDI score and on each of the three subtests; threshold, discrimination and identification. In 26.6% of the patients improvement of more than six points of the TDI score was observed. The treatment proved to be more effective in patients with sinunasal olfactory dysfunction, where this percentage increased to 36.7, compared to other aetiologies. In addition, the increase in olfactory function was negatively correlated with the TDI score before the treatment. Conclusion: This study confirms the effectiveness of systemic corticosteroids on olfactory dysfunction in a large patient population. Specifically, the results show that treatment is: (a) more effective in patients with sinunasal than in patients with idiopathic olfactory dysfunction, (b) most effective in patients with sinunasal disease with nasal polyps, and (c), at best, effective in half of the patients. The current study may provide help in counselling patients.

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