scholarly journals Impact Of an Immune Modulator Mycobacterium-w On Adaptive Natural Killer Cells and Protection Against COVID-19

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarita Rani Jaiswal ◽  
Jaganath Arunachalam ◽  
Ashraf Saifullah ◽  
Anupama Mehta ◽  
Gitali Bhagawati ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natural Killer ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
T Cell Subsets ◽  
Control Group ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
Lower Baseline ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Mycobacterium W ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Cell Profile

The kinetics of NKG2C+ adaptive natural killer (ANK) cells and NKG2A+inhibitory NK (iNK) cells with respect to the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection were studied in a cohort of health-care workers following administration of heat killed Mycobacterium w (Mw group) in comparison to a control group. COVID-19 infection correlated with a lower NKG2C+ANK cells at baseline. NKG2C+ANK cells at baseline did not differ, but there was a significant upregulation of NKG2C expression and cytokine release in the Mw group (p=0.0009), particularly in those with lower baseline NKG2C expression (<15%), along with marked downregulation of NKG2A+iNK cells (p<0.0001), and an increase in the NKG2C+ANK/NKG2A+iNK ratio. This translated to a significant reduction in COVID-19 and its severity in the Mw group. No impact was observed on T cell subsets. Mw was observed to have a salutary impact on the ANK cell profile which might have provided protection against COVID-19 over a prolonged period in a non-immune high-risk population.

scholarly journals kinetics of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies over time. Results of 10 month follow up in over 300 seropositive Health Care Workers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jose Felipe Varona ◽  
Rodrigo Madurga ◽  
Francisco Peñalver ◽  
Elena Abarca ◽  
Cristina Almirall ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Over Time

scholarly journals Prevalence of Blood-Borne Viruses in Health Care Workers of a Northern District in Pakistan: Risk Factors and Preventive Behaviors

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Muhammad Zuhaib Khan ◽  
Shahab Saqib ◽  
Sayed Irtiza Hussain Shah Gardyzi ◽  
Javaria Qazi
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Needle Stick Injury ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
Preventive Behaviors ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Associated Risk Factors

Background. Blood-borne viral infections like viral hepatitis are highly prevalent in Pakistan. There is also a potential threat of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) spread in the country. Health care workers (HCWs) are a high risk population for acquiring such viral infections and potential spread to the patients. This study aimed to determine the frequency of three blood-borne viruses: HCV, HBV, and HIV in HCWs of district Malakand in northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province of Pakistan. Moreover, risk factors and preventive behaviors among HCWs were investigated in detail.Materials and Methods.Prevalence was investigated using serological assays followed by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) based characterization. A total of 626 health care workers working at 17 different health care units, belonging to 6 different job categories, were included in this study.Results.HIV was not detected in the HCWs while rate of prevalence of HCV and HBV was far less (0.8 % and 0.64 %, resp.) as compared to general population (4.7%–38%). The majority of HCWs were aware of the mode of spread of these viruses and associated risk factors. Needle stick injury was found to be the most important risk factor for possible acquisition of these infections.

scholarly journals Robust Antibody Responses to the BNT162b2 mRNA Vaccine Occur Within a Week After the First Dose in Previously Infected Individuals and After the Second Dose in Uninfected Individuals

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yosuke Hirotsu ◽  
Kenji Amemiya ◽  
Hiroki Sugiura ◽  
Miyuki Shinohara ◽  
Mika Takatori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Protein A ◽  
Antibody Responses ◽  
Post Vaccination ◽  
Severity Of Disease ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Antibody Titres ◽  
Kinetics Of ◽  
Hourly Basis

BackgroundVaccines against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 can trigger acquired immunity in infection-naïve individuals and offer a path toward ending the coronavirus disease pandemic that began in 2019. However, the kinetics of early antibody responses in vaccinated individuals remain poorly understood.MethodWe followed BNT162b2 mRNA-vaccinated health care workers (HCWs, N=108) including 103 infection-naïve and five previously infected individuals. A total of 763 blood samples were collected weekly or hourly basis before and after vaccination. Serological analysis of anti-spike and anti-nucleocapsid antibodies was performed.ResultsSeroconversion occurred in all infection-naïve HCWs 3 weeks after the first dose (just before the second vaccination) and a marked boosting effect was observed at 4 weeks (1 week after the second dose). Among previously infected HCWs with pre-existing antibodies against the spike protein, a remarkable boosting effect was observed during the first week after vaccination, and a further increase in antibody titres was observed after the second dose. In one previously infected patient, daily blood sampling was conducted. Antibody titres began to increase 96 hours (4 days) after the first dose.ConclusionThe BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine remarkably enhanced antibody responses after the second dose in infection-naïve individuals and after the first dose in previously infected HCWs of all ages and genders. Antibody titres decreased slightly after the 5th week post-vaccination. The robust boosting effect of immunisation suggests that increased antibody titres following exposure to the virus may restrict viral replication, prolong the incubation period, or lessen the severity of disease.

scholarly journals Hepatitis C infection in risk groups

2006 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 13-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sead Ahmetagić ◽  
Kasim Muminhodžić ◽  
Elmir Čičkušić ◽  
Vildana Stojić ◽  
Jasminka Petrović ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Hcv Infection ◽  
Intravenous Drug ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Hepatitis C Infection ◽  
Care Workers

Hepatitis C infection is important global health problem with wide spectrum of health, social and economic consequences. The goal of this research was to estimate prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection in risk groups, and to determine association hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and risk factors. Research included 4627 subjects divided in two groups. Test group included 2627 subjects divided in 4 subgroups with risk for HCV infection: those who received blood transfusion without screening on HCV (it was introduced in 1995) (700); intravenous drug users (60); patients on hemodialysis (168) and health care workers (1699). Control group included 2000 healthy volunteer blood donors. In all subjects anti-HCV antibodies were tested with third generation ELISA test. Positive serum samples were tested for presence of HCVRNA, using reaction of reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction. In all anti-HCV positive subjects further epidemiological and clinical workup was performed. Prevalence of HCV infection in risk groups was: 4.6% in subjects who have received blood transfusions without HCV blood screening, 35% in intravenous drug users, 58.9% in patients on chronic dialysis, and 0.4% in health care workers. In control group prevalence was low (0.2%). In the group of 158 anti-HCV positive subjects, 73.4% had HCVRNA. The largest number of subjects with HCV infection was in the age group of 30-49 years (45.8%). This study showed that multiple blood transfusions before introducing the blood screening for HCV, longer duration of intravenous drug abuse, longer duration of hemodialysis treatment, larger number of accidental injuries in health care workers are independent and statistically significant risk factors for those groups examined. Results of this study confirm that general screening for HCV infection is recommended in risk groups for HCV infection in order to identify to prevent and to treat it.

Yoga and music intervention to reduce depression, anxiety, and stress during COVID-19 outbreak on healthcare workers

2021 ◽  
pp. 002076402110067
Author(s):  
Manisha Vajpeyee ◽  
Shivam Tiwari ◽  
Kavita Jain ◽  
Pamil Modi ◽  
Prem Bhandari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Music Therapy ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Music Intervention ◽  
Stress Scale ◽  
Symptoms Of Depression ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Combined Interventions

Aim: To investigate impact of Yoga and Music Intervention on anxiety, stress, and depression levels of health care workers during the COVID-19 outbreak. Methods: This study was conducted to assess psychological responses of 240 healthcare workers during COVID-19 outbreak. We used Yoga and Music Intervention in normal and abnormal subjects based on Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-42 (DASS-42). Results: Of all 209 participants, 105 (50.23%) had symptoms of depression (35.88%), anxiety (40.19), and stress (34.92%) alone or in combination. The data suggest that there is significant improvement in test scores after intervention. Majority of persons with abnormal score exhibited improved DASS-42 score on combined interventions of Yoga and music compared to control group. Even subjects without abnormalities on DASS-42 score also showed improved DASS-42 scores in intervention ( n = 52) group compared to nonintervention ( n = 52) group. Conclusions: Our findings highlighted the significance of easily available, simple, inexpensive, safe nonpharmacological interventions like Yoga and Music therapy to overcome stress, anxiety, and depression in present times.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the curative effect of “Tertiary hospitals–Community Health Service Institutions–Family health care workers/Patients to participate in the annular management of COPD” model in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

2018 ◽  
Vol 01 (02) ◽  
pp. 153-161
Author(s):  
Cuiling Feng ◽  
Yufeng Meng ◽  
Jianhui Wang ◽  
Zhiyun Yang ◽  
Wei Zhou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Service ◽  
Community Health ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Family Health ◽  
Community Health Service ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Trial Group ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Tertiary Hospitals

Objective: To evaluate the curative effect of “Tertiary hospitals–Community Health Service Institutions–Family health care workers/patients to participate in the annular management of COPD” model in the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods: 516 patients with COPD in the stable period of the disease were invited to participate in this cluster randomized trial with 260 patients in the trial group, and the other 256 in the control group. All the patients were treated with the routine medicine regimen. The integrated intervention for the trial group includes educational activity, physical activity and pharmacotherapy. Meanwhile, the trial group subdivided into Baduanjin group and other exercises group according to their own situations, COPD Assessment Test (CAT), the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) Dyspnea Scale, number of acute exacerbation and spirometry were analyzed before, 6 months post and 12 months post. Results: After 12 months of annular management, CAT score of patients in the management group decreased 3.76, mMRC scale decreased 0.45, the number of acute exacerbation less than twice increased to 75%, which were superior to those of the control group ([Formula: see text]). Decreasing score of CAT and mMRC scale in Baduanjin group were much more than that in other exercise subgroup ([Formula: see text]). Conclusion: “Tertiary hospitals–Community Health Service Institutions–Family health care workers/patients to participate in the annular management of COPD” model can alleviate the symptoms of patients with stable COPD, improve the life quality and reduce the risk of exacerbation, and is more integrated than medication management. Baduanjin as Chinese characteristic pulmonary rehabilitation exercise is worthy of further promotion due to better outstanding other than sports in improving the quality of life.

scholarly journals ISIDOG Recommendations Concerning COVID-19 and Pregnancy

Diagnostics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Donders ◽  
Risa Lonnée-Hoffmann ◽  
Aristotelis Tsiakalos ◽  
Werner Mendling ◽  
José Martinez de Oliveira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Obstetrics And Gynecology ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Mother And Child ◽  
Specific Care

Providing guidelines to health care workers during a period of rapidly evolving viral pandemic infections is not an easy task, but it is extremely necessary in order to coordinate appropriate action so that all patients will get the best possible care given the circumstances they are in. With these International Society of Infectious Disease in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISIDOG) guidelines we aim to provide detailed information on how to diagnose and manage pregnant women living in a pandemic of COVID-19. Pregnant women need to be considered as a high-risk population for COVID-19 infection, and if suspected or proven to be infected with the virus, they require special care in order to improve their survival rate and the well-being of their babies. Both protection of healthcare workers in such specific care situations and maximal protection of mother and child are envisioned.

scholarly journals Comparison of immunogenicity between BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1 SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in a large haemodialysis population

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Candice L Clarke ◽  
Paul Martin ◽  
Sarah Gleeson ◽  
Tina Thomson ◽  
Helena Edwards ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
T Cell Responses ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Limited Data ◽  
Post Vaccination ◽  
Cell Responses ◽  
Vaccination Strategies ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Humoral Responses

Background Limited data exists on the immunogenicity of vector-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in patients with kidney disease. Given their use in over 180 countries, such data is of upmost importance to inform policy on optimal vaccination strategies. This study compares the immunogenicity of BNT162b2 with ChAdOx1 in patients receiving haemodialysis. Methods 1021 patients were screened for spike protein antibodies (anti-S) following 2 doses of either BNT162b2 (n=523) or ChAdOx1 (n=498). 191 patients underwent assessment with T-cell ELISpot assays. 65 health care workers were used as a control group. Results Anti-S was detected in 936 (91.2%) of patients post-vaccination. There was no difference in seroconversion rates between infection-naïve patients who received BNT162b2, 248/281 (88.3%), compared with ChAdOx1, 227/272 (83.5%), p=0.11. Anti-S concentrations were higher following BNT162b, 462(152-1171) BAU/ml, compared with ChAdOx-1 79(20-213) BAU/ml, p<0.0001. Immunosuppression was associated with failure to seroconvert (p<0.0001); whilst being active on the transplant wait list was a predictor for seroconversion (p=0.02). Only 73 (38.2%) of patients had detectable T-cell responses post-vaccination, with no proportional difference between infection-naïve patients who received BNT162b2, 2/19 (10.5%), versus ChAdOx1, 15/75 (20.0%), p=0.34. There were no quantitative differences in T-cell responses in infection-naïve patients, with a median 2(0-16) SFU/106 PBMCs and 10(4-28) SFU/106 PBMCs in those receiving BNT162b2 and ChAdOx1 respectively, p=0.35. These responses were significantly weaker compared with healthy controls. Conclusions. Enhanced immunogenicity was seen with BNT162b2 compared with ChAdOx1, driven by superior humoral responses, with attenuated T-cell responses to both vaccines. Comparative data on clinical efficacy is now required.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among health care workers in a large Spanish reference hospital

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto L Garcia-Basteiro ◽  
Gemma Moncunill ◽  
Marta Tortajada ◽  
Marta Vidal ◽  
Caterina Guinovart ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
P Value ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
Risk Population ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Asymptomatic Subjects ◽  
Cumulative Prevalence

AbstractBackgroundHealth care workers (HCW) are a high-risk population to acquire SARS-CoV-2 infection from patients or other fellow HCW. At the same time, they can be contagious to highly vulnerable individuals seeking health care. This study aims at estimating the seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 and associated factors in HCW from a large referral hospital in Barcelona, Spain, one of the countries hardest hit by COVID-19 in the world.MethodsFrom 28 March to 9 April 2020, we recruited a random sample of 578 HCW from the human resources database of Hospital Clínic in Barcelona. We collected a nasopharyngeal swab for direct SARS-CoV-2 detection through real time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR), as well as blood for plasma antibody quantification. IgM, IgG and IgA antibodies to the receptor-binding domain of the spike protein were measured by Luminex. The cumulative prevalence of infection (past or current) was defined by a positive SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR and/or antibody seropositivity.ResultsOf the 578 total participants, 39 (6.7%, 95% CI: 4.8-9.1) had been previously diagnosed with COVID-19 by rRT-PCR, 14 (2.4%, 95% CI: 1.4-4.3) had a positive rRT-PCR at recruitment, and 54 (9.3%, 95% CI: 7.2-12.0) were seropositive for IgM and/or IgG and/or IgA against SARS-CoV-2. Of the 54 seropositive HCW, 21 (38.9%) had not been previously diagnosed with COVID-19, although 10 of them (47.6%) reported past COVID-19-compatible symptoms. The cumulative prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 11.2% (65/578, 95% CI: 8.9-14.1). Among those with evidence of past or current infection, 40.0% (26/65) had not been previously diagnosed with COVID-19, of which 46.2% (12/26) had history of COVID-19-compatible symptoms. The odds of being seropositive was higher in participants who reported any COVID-19 symptom (OR: 8.84, 95% CI: 4.41-17.73). IgM levels positively correlated with age (rho=0.36, p-value=0.031) and were higher in participants with more than 10 days since onset of symptoms (p-value=0.022), and IgA levels were higher in symptomatic than asymptomatic subjects (p-value=0.041).ConclusionsThe seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among HCW was lower than expected. Thus, being a high-risk population, we anticipate these estimates to be an upper limit to the seroprevalence of the general population. Forty per cent of those with past or present infection had not been previously diagnosed with COVID-19, which calls for active periodic rRT-PCR testing among all HCW to minimize potential risk of hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infections.

scholarly journals Hand carriage of aerobic Gram-negative rods may not be transient

1982 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian G. Adams ◽  
Thomas J. Marrie
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Surgical Intensive Care Unit ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Enterobacter Agglomerans ◽  
Surgical Intensive Care ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Hand Dermatitis ◽  
Control Subjects ◽  
Care Workers

SUMMARYIn order to determine whether hand carriage of aerobic Gram-negative rods is continuous we used the glove-handwash technique to sample the hands of two groups (four each) of health care workers with normal hands (surgical intensive care unit, medical ward) and one group (four) with hand dermatitis (HD) and a group (five) of control subjects – secretaries with no exposure to patients. Each subject was sampled repeatedly over three to six weeks. The mean number of samples for each group was 25.2, 23.2, 19.8 and 25.8 respectively. The HD group had more samples positive for aerobic Gram-negative rods than did the other two groups of health care workers while the control group had more samples positive than any of the three health care groups.Using various typing schemes and the following definition of continuous carriage (the isolation of an organism of the same serotype, pyocin type or biotype from more than two handwash samples) we found that 4 of 11 subjects from whomKlebsiella pseumoniaewas isolated carried this organism continuously; 2 of 3 carriedPseudomonas aeruginosacontinuously and 4 of 5 of the control subjects carried the same biotype ofEnterobacter agglomeranscontinuously.We conclude that continuous hand carriage of aerobic Gram-negative rods is common and, among health care workers, those with hand dermatitis carry Gram-negative rods more frequently and in greater numbers than health care workers without hand dermatitis.

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