scholarly journals Distinct Vaccine Efficacy Rates Among Health Care Workers During a COVID-19 Outbreak in Jordan

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iyad Sultan ◽  
Abdelghani Tbakhi ◽  
Osama Abuatta ◽  
Sawsan Mubarak ◽  
Osama Alsmadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Vaccine Efficacy ◽  
Cox Regression ◽  
Vaccine Dose ◽  
Vaccine Recipient ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Tertiary Cancer Center

BACKGROUND: We aimed to assess the efficacy of 3 COVID-19 vaccines in a population of health care workers at a tertiary cancer center in Amman, Jordan. METHODS: We evaluated the records of 2855 employees who were fully vaccinated with 1 of 3 different vaccines and those of 140 employees who were not vaccinated. We measured the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections that occurred at least 14 days after the second vaccine dose. RESULTS The 100-day cumulative incidence of PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections was 19.3% +/- 3.3% for unvaccinated employees and 1.7% +/- 0.27% for fully vaccinated employees. The 100-day cumulative infection rates were 0.7% +/- 0.22% in BNT162b2 vaccine recipients (n = 1714), 3.6% +/- 0.77% in BBIBP-CorV recipients (n = 680), and 2.3% +/- 0.73% in ChAdOx1 recipients (n = 456). We used Cox regression analyses to compare the risks of SARS-CoV-2 infection among the different vaccine recipient groups and found a significantly higher infection risk in BBIBP-CorV (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.9 +/- 0.31) and ChAdOx1 recipients (HR = 3.0 +/- 0.41) compared to BNT162b2 recipients (P = .00039 and .0074, respectively). Vaccinated employees who had no previously confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections were at a markedly higher risk for breakthrough infections than those who experienced prior infections (HR = 5.7 +/- 0.73, P = .0178). CONCLUSIONS: Our study offers a real-world example of differential vaccine efficacy among a high-risk population during a national outbreak. We also show the important synergism between a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccination.

Health-Care Workers’ Perception of Reimbursement for Complex Surgical Oncology Procedures

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-145
Author(s):  
Shoshana Levi ◽  
Emily Alberto ◽  
Dakota Urban ◽  
Nicholas Petrelli ◽  
Gregory Tiesi
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Surgical Oncology ◽  
Patient Perceptions ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Physician Reimbursement ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Fee Schedule

Perception of physician reimbursement for surgical procedures is not well studied. The few existing studies illustrate that patients believe compensation to be higher than in reality. These studies focus on patient perceptions and have not assessed health-care workers’ views. Our study examined health-care workers’ perception of reimbursement for complex surgical oncology procedures. An anonymous online survey was distributed to employees at our cancer center with descriptions and illustrations of three oncology procedures—hepatectomy, gastrectomy, and pancreaticoduodenectomy. Participants estimated the Medicare fee and gave their perceived value of each procedure. Participants recorded their perception of surgeon compensation overall, both before and after revealing the Medicare fee schedule. Most of the 113 participants were physicians (33.6%) and nurses (28.3%). When blinded to the Medicare fee schedules, most felt that reimbursements were too low for all procedures (60–64%) and that surgeons were overall undercompensated (57%). Value predictions for each procedure were discordant from actual Medicare fee schedules, with overestimates up to 374 per cent. After revealing the Medicare fee schedules, 55 per cent of respondents felt that surgeons were undercompensated. Even among health-care workers, a large discrepancy exists between perceived and actual reimbursement. Revealing actual reimbursements did not alter perception on overall surgeon compensation.

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 From nurse to patient: A journey to healing

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Leo Begazo
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Intensive Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Personal Experience ◽  
Religious Beliefs ◽  
Nurse Manager ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Life Threatening

The nurse manager of an oncology clinic in a major cancer center shares his personal experience as a COVID-19 patient with other health care workers. He has spent two weeks in intensive care and found himself on the brink of death. In a lively description, he underlines the aspect of care that contributed to his cure. This included the respect that his caregivers expressed to his values, his love of his family and his religious beliefs. The communication of the caregivers was always honest and compassionate. He learned that love is the strongest motivation to survive in the course of a life-threatening disease and that healing is possible even in the absence of cure.

scholarly journals Neutralizing antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant after 3rd mRNA vaccination in health care workers and elderly subjects and response to a single dose in previously infected adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anu Haveri ◽  
Anna Solastie ◽  
Nina Ekström ◽  
Pamela Österlund ◽  
Hanna Nohynek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Nursing Home Residents ◽  
Vaccine Dose ◽  
Spike Protein ◽  
Wild Type Virus ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Igg Antibody ◽  
Care Workers

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant (B.1.1.529) with major spike protein mutations has raised concern over potential neutralization escape and breakthrough infections among vaccinated and previously SARS-CoV-2 infected subjects. We measured cross-protective antibodies against variants in health care workers (HCW, n=20) and nursing home residents (n=9) from samples collected 1-2 months following the booster (3rd) dose. We also assessed the antibody responses in prior to Omicron era infected subjects (n=38) with subsequent administration of a single mRNA vaccine dose. Following booster vaccination HCWs had high IgG antibody concentrations to the spike protein and neutralizing antibodies (NAb) were detectable against all variants. IgG concentrations among the elderly remained lower, and some lacked NAbs against the Beta and Omicron variants. NAb titers were significantly reduced against Delta, Beta and Omicron compared to wild-type virus regardless of age. Vaccination induced high IgG concentrations and variable titers of cross-reactive NAbs in previously infected subjects, whereas NAb titers against Omicron were barely detectable 1-month post-infection. High IgG concentrations with cross-protective neutralizing activity were detected after three COVID-19 vaccine doses in HCWs. However, lower NAb titers seen in the frail elderly suggest inadequate protection against Omicron breakthrough infections, yet protection against severe COVID-19 is expected.

scholarly journals Prospective Observational COVID-19 Screening and Monitoring of Asymptomatic Cancer Center Health-Care Workers with a Rapid Serological Test

Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 975
Author(s):  
Angelo Virgilio Paradiso ◽  
Simona De Summa ◽  
Nicola Silvestris ◽  
Stefania Tommasi ◽  
Antonio Tufaro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Serological Test ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Chemiluminescence Immunoassay ◽  
Infected People ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Oropharyngeal Swab

Health-care workers (HCW) are at high risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection and, if asymptomatic, for transmitting the virus to fragile cancer patients. We monitored all asymptomatic HCWs of a cancer institute (94% of all employees agreed to enter the study) with the rapid serological test, VivaDiagTM, identifying SARS-CoV-2 associated-IgM/IgG. The tests were performed at time 0 (n = 606) and after 14 days (n = 393). Overall, the VivaDiagTM results of nine HCWs (1.5%) were positive, with one confirmed to be SARS-CoV-2-positive after oropharyngeal swab testing by RT-PCR. At time 0, all nine cases showed IgM expression while IgG was detected in only one. After 14 days, IgM persisted in all the cases, while IgG became evident in four. A chemiluminescence immunoassay (CLIA) confirmed IgM positivity in 5/13 VivaDiagTM positive cases and IgG positivity in 4/5 VivaDiagTM positive cases. Our study suggests that the VivaDiagTM test can be of help in identifying SARS-CoV-2 infected people in cohorts of subjects with a high prevalence.

scholarly journals BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination Elicits High Titers of Neutralizing Antibodies to Both B.1 and P.1 Variants in Previously Infected and Uninfected Subjects

Life ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 896
Author(s):  
Ilaria Vicenti ◽  
Francesca Gatti ◽  
Renzo Scaggiante ◽  
Adele Boccuto ◽  
Daniela Zago ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Neutralizing Antibodies ◽  
Vaccine Dose ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Post Vaccination ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
Cross Neutralization ◽  
Highly Correlated

We aimed to investigate neutralizing antibody titers (NtAbT) to the P.1 and B.1 SARS-CoV-2 variants in a cohort of healthy health care workers (HCW), including 20 previously infected individuals tested at baseline (BLinf, after a median of 298 days from diagnosis) and 21 days after receiving one vaccine dose (D1inf) and 15 uninfected subjects tested 21 days after the second-dose vaccination (D2uninf). All the subjects received BNT162b2 vaccination. D1inf NtAbT increased significantly with respect to BLinf against both B.1 and P.1 variants, with a fold-change significantly higher for P.1. D1inf NtAbT were significantly higher than D2uninf NtAbT, against B.1 and P.1. NtAbT against the two strains were highly correlated. P.1 NtAbT were significantly higher than B.1 NtAbT. This difference was significant for post-vaccination sera in infected and uninfected subjects. A single-dose BNT162b2 vaccination substantially boosted the NtAb response to both variants in the previously infected subjects. NtAb titers to B.1 and P.1 lineages were highly correlated, suggesting substantial cross-neutralization. Higher titers to the P.1 than to the B.1 strain were driven by the post-vaccination titers, highlighting that cross-neutralization can be enhanced by vaccination.

scholarly journals Binding and Neutralization Antibody Titers After a Single Vaccine Dose in Health Care Workers Previously Infected With SARS-CoV-2

JAMA ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saman Saadat ◽  
Zahra Rikhtegaran Tehrani ◽  
James Logue ◽  
Michelle Newman ◽  
Matthew B. Frieman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Vaccine Dose ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Antibody Titers

scholarly journals Immune responses to a single dose of the AZD1222/Covishield vaccine in health care workers

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Chandima Jeewandara ◽  
Achala Kamaladasa ◽  
Pradeep Darshana Pushpakumara ◽  
Deshni Jayathilaka ◽  
Inoka Sepali Aberathna ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Single Dose ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Vaccine Dose ◽  
Neutralization Assay ◽  
Wild Type Virus ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Blocking Antibodies

AbstractSeveral COVID-19 vaccines have received emergency approval. Here we assess the immunogenicity of a single dose of the AZD1222 vaccine, at one month, in a cohort of health care workers (HCWs) (629 naïve and 26 previously infected). 93.4% of naïve HCWs seroconverted, irrespective of age and gender. Haemagglutination test for antibodies to the receptor binding domain (RBD), surrogate neutralization assay (sVNT) and ex vivo IFNγ ELISpot assays were carried out in a sub-cohort. ACE2 blocking antibodies (measured by sVNT) were detected in 67/69 (97.1%) of naïve HCWs. Antibody levels to the RBD of the wild-type virus were higher than to RBD of B.1.1.7, and titres to B.1.351 were very low. Ex vivo T cell responses were observed in 30.8% to 61.7% in naïve HCWs. Previously infected HCWs, developed significantly higher (p < 0.0001) ACE2 blocking antibodies and antibodies to the RBD for the variants B.1.1.7 and B.1.351. This study shows high seroconversion after one vaccine dose, but also suggests that one vaccine dose may be insufficient to protect against emerging variants.

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