scholarly journals Evaluation of serum antibodies against SARS‐CoV‐2 in healthcare workers who participated in the operation of charter flights for the evacuation of Japanese residents from Hubei Province

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tetsuya Suzuki ◽  
Kayoko Hayakawa ◽  
Akira Ainai ◽  
Naoko Iwata-Yoshikawa ◽  
Kaori Sano ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Serum Antibody ◽  
Hubei Province ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
Prevention Guidelines ◽  
Japanese Residents ◽  
Selection Of

There are several recommendations for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. However, the selection of appropriate PPE for the current situation remains controversial. We measured serum antibody titers for SARS-CoV-2 in 10 participants who were engaged in the operation of charter flights for the evacuation of Japanese residents from Hubei Province. All participants wore PPE in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines. A total of 17 samples were tested, and all were seronegative. Hence, we conclude that the current PPE recommendation is effective to protect healthcare workers from SARS-CoV-2 infection.

scholarly journals Homegrown Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation for Hospital-Based N95 Decontamination during the COVID-19 Pandemic

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Schnell ◽  
Melanie J. Harriff ◽  
Jane E. Yates ◽  
Elham Karamooz ◽  
Christopher D. Pfeiffer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Global Supply Chains ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Respiratory Protection ◽  
Exposure Risk ◽  
High Demand ◽  
Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Ultraviolet C

AbstractCoronavirus disease (COVID-19), the disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus, is responsible for the 2020 global pandemic and characterized by high transmissibility and morbidity. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk of contracting COVID-19, and this risk is mitigated through the use of personal protective equipment such as N95 Filtering Facepiece Respirators (FFRs). The high demand for FFRs is not currently met by global supply chains, potentially placing HCWs at increased exposure risk. Effective FFR decontamination modalities exist, which could maintain respiratory protection for HCWs in the midst of the current pandemic, through the decontamination and re-use of FFRs. Here, we present a locally-implemented ultraviolet-C germicidal irradiation (UVGI)-based FFR decontamination pathway, utilizing a home-built UVGI array assembled entirely with previously existing components available at our institution. We provide recommendations on the construction of similar systems, as well as guidance and strategies towards successful institutional implementation of FFR decontamination.

scholarly journals SALIVA - A PROSPECTIVE DIAGNOSTIC TOOL FOR SARS CoV-2

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Tarunya Vishwanath ◽  
Shalini Arumugam ◽  
Sathish. R ◽  
Anitha Logaranjini ◽  
Prashanthi Prashanthi
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Diagnostic Tool ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Standard Technique ◽  
Hubei Province ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Wuhan City ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Specimen Collection

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) now called the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) was first identified in Wuhan city, Hubei province, China. Currently RT-PCR using nasopharyngeal and Oropharyngeal swabs is supposed to be the most efficacious and standard technique for COVID testing, but are invasive and have a few drawbacks due to which, saliva as a diagnostic specimen is proposed. Salivary specimen collection is non-invasive and can be self-collected at any time and repeatedly and greatly minimises the exposure of. healthcare workers to COVID-19.

scholarly journals Control and Prevention of SARS-CoV-2 Outbreaks among Healthcare Workers from 129 Healthcare Facilities in Mexico

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (22) ◽  
pp. 11772
Author(s):  
César Pineda-Santoyo ◽  
Abraham Campos-Romero ◽  
Marco A. Luna-Ruiz Esparza ◽  
Liliana E. López-Luna ◽  
Martha E. Sánchez-Zarate ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Health Program ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Inclusion Criteria ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
And Training ◽  
Back To Work

Few reports have shared the workflows to reduce SARS-CoV-2 infections among risk groups, including healthcare workers (HCWs). This study describes an occupational health program implemented to reduce the incidence of COVID-19 and establishes a back-to-work algorithm in HCWs of 129 Salud Digna outpatient care clinics in Mexico. This program was composed of training plans, screening SARS-CoV-2 infections, the containment of infections, follow-up COVID-19 cases, and continuing supervision in addition to the steady supply and training for the correct use of PPE. From 16 April 2020 to 15 April 2021, 7376 individuals were enrolled, of which 423 were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria or refused the follow-up. In the cohort studied, we found a COVID-19 incidence of 35.4% (2610 individuals), lower hospitalization (0.11%), ICU (0.04%) and lethality rate (0.04%). Additionally, 85.9% of COVID-19 cases tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 after 14 days of the first positive test with an average isolation time of 26–33 days. Finally, 99% of people received personal protective equipment and adequate training to use it. Our results show that the program implemented reduced the hospitalization ICU admission and lethality in HCWs; we consider this workflow to help other workplaces offer safe conditions for HCWs and patients.

scholarly journals Seven-Month Analysis of Five SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Assay Results after ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccination: Significant Decrease in SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Titer

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 85
Author(s):  
Seri Jeong ◽  
Nuri Lee ◽  
Su-Kyung Lee ◽  
Eun-Jung Cho ◽  
Jungwon Hyun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Antibody Titer ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Vaccination Strategy ◽  
Antibody Assay ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Vaccination Strategies ◽  
Antibody Assays ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
Dose Scheme

We investigated the longevity rates of antibodies to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) after a complete ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination, which are rare and important to estimate their efficacy and establish a vaccination strategy. We assessed the positivity rates and changes of titers before (T0) and at one month (T1), four months (T2), and seven months (T3) after a ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccination using five SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays. A total of 874 serum samples were obtained from 228 (T0 and T1), 218 (T2), and 200 (T3) healthcare workers. The positive rates for all five assays were 0.0–0.9% at T0, 66.2–92.5% at T1, 98.2–100.0% at T2, and 66.0–100.0% at T3. The positive rates at T3 were decreased compared to those at T2. The median antibody titers of all the assays at T3 were significantly decreased compared to those at T2 (860.5 to 232.0 U/mL for Roche total, 1041.5 to 325.5 AU/mL for Abbott IgG, 10.9 to 2.3 index for Siemens IgG, 99.5% to 94.7% for SD Biosensor V1, and 88.5% to 38.2% for GenScript). A third-dose scheme can be considered based on our data generated from five representative assays. Our findings contribute insights into SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays and appropriate vaccination strategies.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Barriers to Care for Pregnant Patients in Prolonged Isolation

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Mary E. Burgoyne ◽  
Emad A. Elsamadicy ◽  
Liviu Cojocaru ◽  
Andrea Desai
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Barriers To Care ◽  
Healthcare Systems ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Premature Rupture Of Membranes ◽  
Premature Rupture ◽  
Preterm Premature Rupture ◽  
Barrier To Care ◽  
In Pregnancy

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the agent responsible for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), continues to have a devastating impact on healthcare systems worldwide, and many questions remain unanswered. The effect of COVID-19 on the pregnant population is widely debated, and the unique risks in pregnancy have not yet been elucidated. What has been established, however, is the recommendation for healthcare workers to use personal protective equipment (PPE) for both contact and airborne precautions to prevent transmission of the pathogen—adding another barrier to care for vulnerable populations. We report a case of a young woman from Haiti during her first pregnancy, who was admitted to the antepartum service at 22 weeks of gestation with preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM) and remained admitted in isolation, though asymptomatic, for over six weeks due to persistent positive SARS-CoV-2 testing. Our case highlights the unique barriers to care that COVID-19 poses to antepartum patients, particularly in the setting of pregnant women with persistent positive testing.

scholarly journals Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among healthcare workers in Hubei Province, China

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Mingyang Wu ◽  
Cong Xie ◽  
Ran Wu ◽  
Yanling Shu ◽  
Lulin Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Clinical Characteristics ◽  
Disease Onset ◽  
Case Fatality ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Hubei Province ◽  
Occupational Groups ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Respiratory Coronavirus

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Hubei Province, China. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Hubei Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Participants: The participants in this study are cases identified by epidemiological investigation in Hubei Province, as of February 27, 2020, and were followed until March 7, 2020. In total, 1,989 HCWs and 41,137 other occupational cases were included for analysis. Methods: We used descriptive statistics to summarize patient characteristics. Results: Of 1,989 laboratory-confirmed HCWs, 297 (14.93%) had severe or critical cases, 73 (3.67%) had asymptomatic infections, and 18 died of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The case fatality rate was 0.9%. The proportion of severe or critical cases decreased from the beginning to the end of the outbreak (from 21.29% to 3.52%), and the proportion of asymptomatic cases increased from 0.0% to 47.18%. Nearly half of HCWs with confirmed COVID-19 reported no known contact with COVID-19 patients (969, 48.72%). Fever and cough were the most common symptoms at disease onset in both HCWs and other occupational cases; however, HCWs had higher rates of fatigue (30.90% vs 25.02%; P < .001) and myalgia (19.15% vs 13.43%; P < .001). Additionally, compared with other occupational groups, HCWs were associated with a lower risk of death after adjustment for potential confounders (odd ratio [OR], 0.50; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.30–0.79). Conclusions: Compared with COVID-19 cases in other occupational groups, HCWs with COVID-19 have half the risk of death, although they have been shown to have higher rates of fatigue and myalgia.

scholarly journals Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Prevent the COVID-19. What Do Healthcare Workers Really Need to Protect Themselves and Survive?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rami AL Edwan
Keyword(s):  
Disease Control ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
World Health ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Medical Practices ◽  
The World ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Health Organization

Background: The healthcare workers are exposed to dangerous pathogen agents during the outbreak of the new coronavirus COVID-19. To minimize the risk of becoming infected by this virus, healthcare workers need to wear the most appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the guidelines that the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend for the rational use of EPP to protect healthcare workers against the novel coronavirus COVID-19.Methodology: To learn how to effectively protect healthcare workers against the COVID-19, a detailed analysis and comparison of the WHO and CDC guidelines related to the proper use of personal protection equipment (PPE) in different healthcare settings was carried out. Results: The results of this study based on an analysis of PPE recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicated that the safety and protection of healthcare workers can be maximized if the guidelines suggested by these institutions are followed. In general, the WHO and CDC recommendations based on medical practices are similar, and depending on the healthcare activities and settings where the healthcare workers perform their work, suggest wearing medical/surgical facemasks, respirators, googles and face shields (eye protection), gloves, gowns and aprons. Conclusions: The protection and safety of the healthcare workers can be maximized during the outbreak of COVID-19 by following the WHO and CDC recommendations described in this study. The general guidelines offered by these institutions are similar and based on medical practices.

scholarly journals An Unusual Case Report of COVID-19 Presenting with Meningitis Symptoms and Shingles

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 316-320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rebecca Packwood ◽  
Gayle Galletta ◽  
Joseph Tennyson
Keyword(s):  
Case Report ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Unusual Case ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Contact Precautions ◽  
Presenting Symptoms ◽  
Unusual Case Report

Introduction: As severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spreads across the globe, physicians face the challenges of a contagious pandemic including which patients to isolate, how to conserve personal protective equipment, and who to test. The current protocol at our hospital is to place anyone with new cough, dyspnea, or fever into airborne and contact precautions and consider them for testing. Unfortunately, the symptomatic presentations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are proving more variable than previously thought. Case Report: Our case of COVID-19 presented with headache and then progressed to a meningitis-like illness with co-existing shingles rash. Conclusion: COVID-19 can have a variety of initial presentations that are not the classic respiratory symptoms and fever. These presenting symptoms of COVID-19 can include a meningitis-like illness, as our case report indicates. The wide variety of presentations of COVID-19 may warrant widespread testing to identify cases, protect healthcare workers, and prevent the spread of this pandemic.

scholarly journals Viral Genomics to Inform Infection-control Response in Occupational Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Transmission

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naomi C A Whyler ◽  
Norelle L Sherry ◽  
Courtney R Lane ◽  
Torsten Seemann ◽  
Patiyan Andersson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Genomic Sequencing ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Viral Genomics ◽  
Subsequent Response ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Control Response

Abstract Healthcare workers are at increased risk of occupational transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We report 2 instances of healthcare workers contracting SARS-CoV-2 despite no known breach of personal protective equipment. Additional specific equipment cleaning was initiated. Viral genomic sequencing supported this transmission hypothesis and our subsequent response.

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