scholarly journals Averting an outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in a university residence hall through wastewater surveillance

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryland Corchis-Scott ◽  
Qiudi Geng ◽  
Rajesh Seth ◽  
Rajan Ray ◽  
Mohsan Beg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Residence Hall ◽  
Case Finding ◽  
Passive Samplers ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Spring Semester ◽  
Fecal Shedding ◽  
Wastewater Stream ◽  
Alpha Variant ◽  
Wastewater Samples

A wastewater surveillance program targeting a university residence hall was implemented during the spring semester 2021 as a proactive measure to avoid an outbreak of COVID-19 on campus. Over a period of 7 weeks from early February through late March 2021, wastewater originating from the residence hall was collected as grab samples 3 times per week. During this time, there was no detection of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-qPCR in the residence hall wastewater stream. Aiming to obtain a sample more representative of the residence hall community, a decision was made to use passive samplers beginning in late March onwards. Adopting a Moore Swab approach, SARS-CoV-2 was detected in wastewater samples on just two days after passive samplers were activated. These samples were also positive for the B.1.1.7 (Alpha) Variant of Concern (VOC) by RT-qPCR. The positive result triggered a public health case finding response including a mobile testing unit deployed to the residence hall the following day with testing of nearly 200 students and staff, which identified two laboratory-confirmed cases of B.1.1.7 variant COVID-19. These individuals were re-located to a separate quarantine facility averting an outbreak on campus. Aggregating wastewater and clinical data, the campus wastewater surveillance program has yielded the first estimates of fecal shedding rates of the B.1.1.7 VOC of SARS-CoV-2 in individuals from a non-clinical setting.

scholarly journals The Rapid Assessment of Aggregated Wastewater Samples for Genomic Surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 on a City-Wide Scale

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric C. Rouchka ◽  
Julia L. Chariker ◽  
Kumar Saurabh ◽  
Sabine Waigel ◽  
Wolfgang Zacharias ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Rapid Assessment ◽  
Wastewater Management ◽  
Catchment Areas ◽  
University Of Louisville ◽  
Rapid Monitoring ◽  
Wide Scale ◽  
Neighborhood Scale ◽  
Wastewater Samples ◽  
The Individual

AbstractThroughout the course of the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic there has been a need for approaches that enable rapid monitoring of public health using an unbiased and minimally invasive means. A major way this has been accomplished is through the regular assessment of wastewater samples by qRT-PCR to detect the prevalence of viral nucleic acid with respect to time and location. Further expansion of SARS-CoV-2 wastewater monitoring efforts to include the detection of variants of interest / concern through next-generation sequencing have enhanced the understanding of the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. In this report we detail the results of a collaborative effort between public health and metropolitan wastewater management authorities and the University of Louisville to monitor the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic through the monitoring of aggregate wastewater samples over a period of 28 weeks. Our data indicates that wastewater monitoring of water quality treatment centers and smaller neighborhood-scale catchment areas is a viable means by which the prevalence and genetic variation of SARS-CoV-2 within a metropolitan community of approximately one million individuals may be monitored. Importantly, these efforts confirm that regional emergence and spread of variants of interest / concern may be detected as readily in aggregate wastewater samples as compared to the individual wastewater sheds.

scholarly journals Rapid spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant in some French regions, June 2021

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (28) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Alizon ◽  
Stéphanie Haim-Boukobza ◽  
Vincent Foulongne ◽  
Laura Verdurme ◽  
Sabine Trombert-Paolantoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Rapid Growth ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
Public Health Authorities ◽  
Alpha Variant

We analysed 9,030 variant-specific RT-PCR tests performed on SARS-CoV-2-positive samples collected in France between 31 May and 21 June 2021. This analysis revealed rapid growth of the Delta variant in three of the 13 metropolitan French regions and estimated a +79% (95% confidence interval: 52–110%) transmission advantage compared with the Alpha variant. The next weeks will prove decisive and the magnitude of the estimated transmission advantages of the Delta variant could represent a major challenge for public health authorities.

scholarly journals Simultaneous Determination of Seven Antibiotics and Five of Their Metabolites in Municipal Wastewater and Evaluation of Their Stability under Laboratory Conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (20) ◽  
pp. 10640
Author(s):  
Sheng Han ◽  
Xinyue Li ◽  
Hongmei Huang ◽  
Ting Wang ◽  
Zhenglu Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Human Pathogens ◽  
Removal Rates ◽  
Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass ◽  
Antibiotics Use ◽  
Wastewater Samples

The selection and spread of antibiotic resistance poses risks to public health by reducing the therapeutic potential of antibiotics against human pathogens. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is potentially the most reliable approach to estimate antibiotics use. Previous WBE studies used parent antibiotics as biomarkers, which may lead to overestimation since parent antibiotics may be directly disposed of. Using metabolites as biomarkers can avoid this drawback. This study developed a simultaneous solid-phase extraction coupled with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method for analyzing 12 antibiotics and human metabolites in wastewater to help assess health risk. Optimum conditions were achieved using a PEP cartridge at pH 3.0. The extraction efficiencies were 73.3~95.4% in influent and 72.0~102.7% in effluent for most of the target analytes. Method detection limit ranged from 0.1 to 1.5 ng/L for influent wastewater and 0.03 to 0.7 ng/L for effluent wastewater. A stability experiment showed that sulfonamide parents and their metabolites were stable at 4 °C, −20 °C and −80 °C, while macrolides metabolites were more stable than their corresponding parents at 4 °C and −20 °C. Finally, the method was applied to measure these analytes in wastewater samples collected from three Beijing WWTPs and to derive apparent removal rates. All metabolites were detected in wastewater samples with concentrations ranging from 1.2 to 772.2 ng/L in influent, from <MDL to 235.6 ng/L in effluent. The apparent removal rates of five metabolites were above 72.6%. These results set a solid foundation for applying WBE to evaluate antibiotics use and its public health effects.

scholarly journals Assessing the sensitivity of STD surveillance in the Netherlands: an application of the capture–recapture method

1999 ◽  
Vol 122 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. REINTJES ◽  
F. TERMORSHUIZEN ◽  
M. J. W. van de LAAR
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Services ◽  
The Netherlands ◽  
International Comparisons ◽  
Case Finding ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Health Decisions ◽  
Capture Recapture ◽  
Stratified Analysis ◽  
Municipal Health

The capture–recapture method was used to estimate the sensitivity of case finding in two national STD surveillance systems: (1) STD registration at municipal health services (STD-MHS); (2) statutory notification by clinicians (NNS). To identify those cases common to both surveillance systems, cases from 1995 were compared using individual identifiers. Estimated sensitivities for syphilis were: STD-MHS 31% (95% CI: 27–35%), NNS 64% (56–71%); and for gonorrhoea: STD-MHS 15% (14–18%), NNS 22% (19–25%). The combined sensitivity of both systems was 76% for syphilis and 34% for gonorrhoea. Differences in the sensitivity of the systems were significant. The NNS was more sensitive than the STD-MHS, and the identification of cases was significantly more sensitive for syphilis than for gonorrhoea. A stratified analysis showed comparable results for the two sexes. Knowledge on the sensitivity of surveillance systems is useful for public health decisions and essential for international comparisons.

Predicting Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Bloodstream Infection Incidence Rates using Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CNISP)

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jona Gjevori ◽  
Kahina Abdesselam
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Nosocomial Infection ◽  
Bloodstream Infection ◽  
Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Incidence Rates ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Methicillin Resistant ◽  
Infection Surveillance ◽  
Healthcare Associated

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is among the most prevalent nosocomial pathogens globally, causing significant morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs. MRSA bloodstream infection (BSI) incidence rates in Canadian hospitals have significantly risen by almost 60% and have a mortality of over 20% upon Intensive Care Unit admission. MRSA is believed to be spread through healthcare workers; thus, high hand hygiene compliancy in addition to environmental cleaning are the cornerstone countermeasures to disrupting its transmission. The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), in collaboration with the Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program (CNISP), conducts national, sentinel surveillance on healthcare-associated infections like MRSA. As a Student Epidemiologist, I developed a research proposal detailing two study objectives: 1) develop a regression model to predict all incident MRSA BSI rates among acute-care hospitals in Canada using CNISP MRSA BSI incident cases from 2000 to 2019, and 2) create a compartmental (Susceptible-Infected-Recovered-Deceased) model to determine the impact of various Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures on the risk of healthcare-associated MRSA BSI transmission specifically. This study hopes to demonstrate that proper IPC compliance is associated with lower incident MRSA BSI rates with the goal being to produce a manuscript draft by 2021. MRSA poses a serious threat to patient safety globally and is becoming a growing national public health concern in Canada; determining which IPC strategy is most effective at disrupting MRSA transmission is essential to reducing incidence and mortality rates.

HIV surveillance and research for migrant populations: a protocol integrating respondent-driven sampling, case finding, and medicolegal services for Venezuelans living in Colombia (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea L Wirtz ◽  
Kathleen R Page ◽  
Megan Stevenson ◽  
José Rafael Guillén ◽  
Jennifer Ortíz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Local Community ◽  
National Health System ◽  
Case Finding ◽  
Hiv Treatment ◽  
Screening Tests ◽  
Respondent Driven Sampling ◽  
Ethical Challenges ◽  
Access To Treatment ◽  
Migrant Populations

BACKGROUND Epidemiologic research among migrant populations is limited by logistical, methodological, and ethical challenges, but necessary for informing public health and humanitarian programming. OBJECTIVE We describe a methodology to estimate HIV prevalence among Venezuelan migrants in Colombia. METHODS Respondent-driven sampling (RDS), a non-probability sampling method, was selected for attributes of reaching highly networked populations without sampling frames and analytic methods that permit estimation of population parameters. RDS was modified to permit electronic referral of peers via SMS and Whatsapp. Participants complete socio-behavioral surveys and rapid HIV and syphilis screening tests with confirmatory testing. HIV treatment is not available for migrants who have entered Colombia through irregular pathways; thus, medicolegal services integrated into post-test counseling provide staff lawyers and legal assistance to participants diagnosed with HIV or syphilis for sustained access to treatment through the national health system. Case finding is integrated into RDS to allow partner referral. The study is implemented by a local community-based organization providing HIV support services and related legal services for Venezuelans in Colombia. RESULTS Data collection launched in four cities in July and August 2021. As of November 2021, 3,105 of the target 6,100 participants were enrolled. CONCLUSIONS Tailored methods that combine community-led efforts with innovations in sampling and linkage to care can aid in advancing health research for migrant and displaced populations. Worldwide trends in displacement and migration underscore the value of improved methods for translation to humanitarian and public health programming.

Is case-finding an inefficient way of addressing depression as a public health problem?

2002 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 545-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
James C. Coyne ◽  
Steven C. Palmer ◽  
Patricia A. Sullivan
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Health Problem ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Case Finding

Using the MCRISP Network for Surveillance of Pediatric Exanthema in Child Care Centers

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Aditi Mahajan ◽  
Peter DeJonge ◽  
Sarang Modi ◽  
Khalil Chedid ◽  
Michael Hayashi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Child Care ◽  
Public Health Surveillance ◽  
Emerging Diseases ◽  
Health Surveillance ◽  
Descriptive Statistics ◽  
Surveillance Program ◽  
Child Care Centers ◽  
Online Program ◽  
Hand Foot Mouth Disease

ABSTRACT Background: Systematic monitoring of exanthema is largely absent from public health surveillance despite emerging diseases and threats of bioterrorism. Michigan Child Care Related Infections Surveillance Program (MCRISP) is the first online program in child care centers to report pediatric exanthema. Methods: MCRISP aggregated daily counts of children sick, absent, or reported ill by parents. We extracted all MCRISP exanthema cases from October 1, 2014 through June 30, 2019. Cases were assessed with descriptive statistics and counts were used to construct epidemic curves. Results: 360 exanthema cases were reported from 12,233 illnesses over 4.5 seasons. Children ages 13-35 months had the highest rash occurrence (45%, n = 162), followed by 36-59 months (41.7%, n = 150), 0-12 months (12.5%, n = 45), and kindergarten (0.8%, n = 3). Centers reported rashes of hand-foot-mouth disease (50%, n = 180), nonspecific rash without fever (15.3%, n = 55), hives (8.1%, n = 29), fever with nonspecific rash (6.9%, n = 25), roseola (3.3%, n = 12), scabies (2.5%, n = 9), scarlet fever (2.5%, n = 9), impetigo (2.2%, n = 8), abscess (1.95, n = 7), viral exanthema without fever (1.7%, n = 6), varicella (1.7%, n = 6), pinworms (0.8%, n = 3), molluscum (0.6%, n = 2), cellulitis (0.6%, n = 2), ringworm (0.6%, n = 2), and shingles (0.2%, n = 1). Conclusion: Child care surveillance networks have the potential to act as sentinel public health tools for surveillance of pediatric exanthema outbreaks.

scholarly journals Case ascertainment in active paediatric surveillance systems: a report from the British Paediatric Surveillance Unit Ascertainment Group

2019 ◽  
Vol 105 (1) ◽  
pp. 62-68
Author(s):  
Richard M Lynn ◽  
Richard Reading
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Active Surveillance ◽  
Surveillance System ◽  
Primary Outcome ◽  
Case Finding ◽  
Surveillance Systems ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Surveillance Studies ◽  
Study Team ◽  
Surveillance Unit

The British Paediatric Surveillance Unit (BPSU) conducts surveillance of rare paediatric conditions using active, or prospective, case finding. The reliability of estimates of incidence, which is the primary outcome of public health importance, depends on ascertainment being as near complete as possible. This paper reviews evidence of the completeness of ascertainment in recent surveillance studies run through the BPSU. Ascertainment varied between 49% and 94% depending on the study. These are upper estimates. This was the basis of a discussion on barriers and facilitators of ascertainment which we have separated into factors related to the condition, factors related to the study methods, factors related to the study team and factors related to the surveillance system infrastructure. This leads to a series of recommendations to ensure continuing high levels of ascertainment in active surveillance studies.

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