Predicted UV-C Sensitivity of Human and Non-human Vertebrate (+) ssRNA Viruses

Infectious Bronchitis ◽

Ssrna Virus ◽

Pathogenic Viruses ◽

Predicted Values ◽

And Control ◽

Uv C

Epidemic and pandemic infectious diseases caused by RNA viruses constitute a significant hazard to human and animal health. Disinfection is an essential aspect of infection prevention and control measures. In this study, we estimated UV-C sensitivity of 83 human and veterinary pathogenic (+) ssRNA viruses by developed pyrimidine dinucleotide frequency-based genomic model. The data showed that the avian infectious bronchitis virus (genus: γ-coronavirus) with an estimated D90 value of 17.8 J/m2 was highly UV sensitive, whereas Salivirus NG-J1 (genus: salivirus) with a D90 value of 346.4 J/m2 was highly UV resistant. Overall, the trend of UV-C sensitivity of (+) ssRNA virus families followed as Coronaviridae < Flaviviridae < Togadoviridae < Arteriviridae, Matonaviridae, Astroviridae < Caciviridae < Picornaviridae < Nodaviridae < Herpeviridae. The results revealed that the enveloped viral families (Coronaviridae, Flaviviridae, Togadoviridae Arteriviridae, and Matonaviridae) are more UV-C sensitive than other non-enveloped families. Further validation of the model estimated UV sensitivity with literature available experimental data showed good agreement of predicted values. The estimates presented here could make it possible to reasonably predict UV-C disinfection efficiency of human and veterinary pathogenic viruses, which need specific biosafety requirements and/or difficult to cultivate in lab conditions.

Improving knowledge, attitudes and practice to prevent COVID-19 transmission in healthcare workers and the public in Thailand

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-021-10768-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rapeephan R. Maude ◽

Monnaphat Jongdeepaisal ◽

Sumawadee Skuntaniyom ◽

Thanomvong Muntajit ◽

Stuart D. Blacksell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

General Public ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Control Measures ◽

The Public ◽

Educational Videos ◽

Abstract Background Key infection prevention and control measures to limit transmission of COVID-19 include social distancing, hand hygiene, use of facemasks and personal protective equipment. However, these have limited or no impact if not applied correctly through lack of knowledge, inappropriate attitude or incorrect practice. In order to maximise the impact of infection prevention and control measures on COVID-19 spread, we undertook a study to assess and improve knowledge, attitudes and practice among 119 healthcare workers and 100 general public in Thailand. The study setting was two inpatient hospitals providing COVID-19 testing and treatment. Detailed information on knowledge, attitudes and practice among the general public and healthcare workers regarding COVID-19 transmission and its prevention were obtained from a combination of questionnaires and observations. Results Knowledge of the main transmission routes, commonest symptoms and recommended prevention methods was mostly very high (> 80%) in both groups. There was lower awareness of aerosols, food and drink and pets as sources of transmission; of the correct duration for handwashing; recommended distance for social/physical distancing; and about recommended types of face coverings. Information sources most used and most trusted were the workplace, work colleagues, health workers and television. The results were used to produce a set of targeted educational videos which addressed many of these gaps with subsequent improvements on retesting in a number of areas. This included improvements in handwashing practice with an increase in the number of areas correctly washed in 65.5% of the public, and 57.9% of healthcare workers. The videos were then further optimized with feedback from participants followed by another round of retesting. Conclusions Detailed information on gaps in knowledge, attitudes and practice among the general public and healthcare workers regarding COVID-19 transmission and its prevention were obtained from a combination of questionnaires and observations. This was used to produce targeted educational videos which addressed these gaps with subsequent improvements on retesting. The resulting videos were then disseminated as a resource to aid in efforts to fight COVID-19 in Thailand and worldwide.

Rapid decline of neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among infected healthcare workers

Nature Communications ◽

10.1038/s41467-021-21111-9 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Stéphane Marot ◽

◽

Isabelle Malet ◽

Valentin Leducq ◽

Karen Zafilaza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Neutralizing Antibodies ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Disease Onset ◽

Control Measures ◽

Rapid Decline ◽

Few Data ◽

Antibody Levels ◽

AbstractThere are only few data concerning persistence of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) among SARS-CoV-2-infected healthcare workers (HCW). These individuals are particularly exposed to SARS-CoV-2 infection and at potential risk of reinfection. We followed 26 HCW with mild COVID-19 three weeks (D21), two months (M2) and three months (M3) after the onset of symptoms. All the HCW had anti-receptor binding domain (RBD) IgA at D21, decreasing to 38.5% at M3 (p < 0.0001). Concomitantly a significant decrease in NAb titers was observed between D21 and M2 (p = 0.03) and between D21 and M3 (p < 0.0001). Here, we report that SARS-CoV-2 can elicit a NAb response correlated with anti-RBD antibody levels. However, this neutralizing activity declines, and may even be lost, in association with a decrease in systemic IgA antibody levels, from two months after disease onset. This short-lasting humoral protection supports strong recommendations to maintain infection prevention and control measures in HCW, and suggests that periodic boosts of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination may be required.

Awareness of COVID-19 Before and After Quarantine Based on Crowdsourced Data From Rabigh City, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional and Comparative Study

Frontiers in Public Health ◽

10.3389/fpubh.2021.632024 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Mai Aldhahri ◽

Rana Alghamdi

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Online Survey ◽

Control Measures ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Second Stage ◽

Before And After ◽

Two Stages ◽

Background: Infection prevention and control measures are critical for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19.Aim: In this study, we aimed to measure and evaluate the level of awareness and knowledge of the prevention, symptoms, and transmission control of COVID-19 before and after quarantine among the residents of Rabigh city and adjacent villages in Saudi Arabia.Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted in two stages: the first stage took place before quarantine and the second stage took place after quarantine. The survey was filled out electronically.Results: A total of 448 participants responded and filled out the questionnaires. Females (73.70%) formed the largest number of participants for both stages. The majority of the participants were <30 years old (50.90%) and had a high education level in various sectors and levels (97.1%). It was noticeable that during the first stage, the participants' awareness of COVID-19 symptoms was not very high: 13.62% did not know about the symptoms. However, by the second stage, awareness about symptoms had increased (9.6%).Conclusion: The residents of Rabigh city and the surrounding villages had good levels of knowledge about COVID-19.

Breastfeeding During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Journal of Neonatology ◽

10.1177/09732179211040621 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 155-158

Author(s):

JP Dadhich ◽

Nupur Bidla

Keyword(s):

Control Measures ◽

Evidence Based ◽

Child Feeding ◽

Young Child Feeding ◽

Childhood Morbidity ◽

Infant And Young Child ◽

Evidence Based Guidelines ◽

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed a serious challenge to the lactating women to practice optimal infant and young child feeding. Although international and national agencies developed appropriate evidence-based guidelines early in the pandemic, availability of this information to the mothers and their caregivers needs to be enhanced. This becomes important in view of apprehension about the risk of a decline in breastfeeding practices during the pandemic due to various factors. Any decrease in the breastfeeding rates may lead to increased childhood morbidity, mortality, and malnutrition. This article provides a glimpse of available evidence-based guidelines on breastfeeding by Covid-19 positive mothers and attempts by the baby food industry to exploit the situation by promoting their products. The article also deals with infection prevention and control measures to be observed by the mother while caring and breastfeeding her baby and other action required to protect breastfeeding from commercial influence.

Mass SARS-CoV-2 Testing in a Dormitory-Style Correctional Facility in Arkansas

American Journal of Public Health ◽

10.2105/ajph.2020.306117 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. e1-e10

Author(s):

Lindsay K. Tompkins ◽

Jayleen K. L. Gunn ◽

Blake Cherney ◽

Jason E. Ham ◽

Roberta Horth ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Infection Prevention ◽

Close Contact ◽

Correctional Facility ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Control Measures ◽

Strict Enforcement ◽

And Control ◽

Respiratory Specimens

Objectives. To assess SARS-CoV-2 transmission within a correctional facility and recommend mitigation strategies. Methods. From April 29 to May 15, 2020, we established the point prevalence of COVID-19 among incarcerated persons and staff within a correctional facility in Arkansas. Participants provided respiratory specimens for SARS-CoV-2 testing and completed questionnaires on symptoms and factors associated with transmission. Results. Of 1647 incarcerated persons and 128 staff tested, 30.5% of incarcerated persons (range by housing unit = 0.0%–58.2%) and 2.3% of staff tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Among those who tested positive and responded to symptom questions (431 incarcerated persons, 3 staff), 81.2% and 33.3% were asymptomatic, respectively. Most incarcerated persons (58.0%) reported wearing cloth face coverings 8 hours or less per day, and 63.3% reported close contact with someone other than their bunkmate. Conclusions. If testing remained limited to symptomatic individuals, fewer cases would have been detected or detection would have been delayed, allowing transmission to continue. Rapid implementation of mass testing and strict enforcement of infection prevention and control measures may be needed to mitigate spread of SARS-CoV-2 in this setting. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print March 18, 2021: e1–e10. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.306117 )

Keeping the wolf at bay: Infection prevention and control measures for inpatient psychiatric facilities in the time of COVID-19

General Hospital Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2020.07.004 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 66 ◽

pp. 51-53 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Brian Barnett ◽

Frank Esper ◽

Charles B. Foster

Keyword(s):

Prevention And Control ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Control Measures ◽

And Control ◽

Psychiatric Facilities

AMR: effective infection prevention and control measures

Practice Nursing ◽

10.12968/pnur.2019.30.8.390 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (8) ◽

pp. 390-395

Author(s):

Naomi Fleming

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Prevention And Control ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Control Measures ◽

Drug Resistant ◽

Practice Nurses ◽

Spread Of Infection ◽

Antimicrobial resistance is on the rise. As more infections are becoming resistant to antibiotic treatment, it would benefit practice nurses to be aware of the effective measures they can use to prevent the spread of infection, explains Naomi Fleming When micro-organisms are exposed to an antimicrobial, more susceptible organisms succumb, leaving behind those resistant to the antimicrobial. They can then pass on resistance to their offspring. The use and misuse of antimicrobials has increased the number and types of resistant organisms. As a result, standard treatments become ineffective and infections persist and may spread. Infection prevention and control (IPC) is key to reducing demand for antimicrobial use and reducing the acquisition of antimicrobial resistance. Poor IPC can increase the spread of drug-resistant infections. Interventions such as effective hand hygiene and vaccination have significant potential to limit opportunities for drug-resistant strains to emerge. Effective leadership is vital and nurses are central to promoting IPC, leading on IPC compliance and ensuring uptake of vaccination in primary care.