scholarly journals Cross-sectional seroprevalence study of antibody to Bordetella pertussis toxin in western Saudi Arabia: is there a need for a vaccine booster dose for adolescents and young adults?

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. e042711
Author(s):  
Fayssal Farahat ◽  
Abdulhakeem Althaqafi ◽  
Abdulfattah Al-Amri ◽  
Asim Alsaedi ◽  
Mohammad Abouremsh ◽  
...  

ObjectivesThe present study was conducted to estimate the seroprevalence of antibody to pertussis toxin among adult populations in western Saudi Arabia.DesignA cross-sectional study.SettingKing Abdulaziz Medical City, Jeddah, western Saudi Arabia. A tertiary care teaching hospital.ParticipantsA total of 1200 participants (400 healthcare workers, 400 military recruits and 400 blood donors) were included. The majority were male (79.3%), and the mean (±SD) age was 27.2 (±6.7) years old.InterventionsThe study included the analysis of serum blood samples using commercial ELISA. A consecutive sampling technique was applied.Primary outcome measuresSeropositivity of antipertussis toxin immunoglobulin G (anti-PT IgG) ≥62.5 IU/mL.ResultsAntibody titres ≥62.5 IU/mL, indicating exposure to Bordetella pertussis infection within the last year, were identified in 12.0% (95% CI 10.2% to 14.0%) of the participants. Titres ≥125 IU/mL, suggesting recent infection, were detected in 3.5% (95% CI 2.5% to 4.7%). Seroprevalence of positive IgG antibody titres (≥62.5 IU/mL) was highest among the healthcare workers (HCWs) (14%), then the military recruits (13.5%) and blood donors (8.5%; p=0.03). The multivariate regression analysis showed association between participants group (HCWs and military), male gender and younger age (<25 years old) and higher antibody to pertussis toxin.ConclusionsHigh pertussis seropositivity was associated with participants’ occupation (ie, healthcare workers and military recruits), and anti-PT IgG titre was negatively correlated with age. A substantial deficiency in pertussis reporting in Saudi Arabia has been suggested, with potential increased risk to the most vulnerable populations (ie, infants and elderly). Enhancing the booster dose of pertussis vaccine for adolescents and adults is crucial to minimise the burden of pertussis.

Thorax ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (12) ◽  
pp. 1089-1094 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Shields ◽  
Sian E Faustini ◽  
Marisol Perez-Toledo ◽  
Sian Jossi ◽  
Erin Aldera ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo determine the rates of asymptomatic viral carriage and seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in healthcare workers.DesignA cross-sectional study of asymptomatic healthcare workers undertaken on 24/25 April 2020.SettingUniversity Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHBFT), UK.Participants545 asymptomatic healthcare workers were recruited while at work. Participants were invited to participate via the UHBFT social media. Exclusion criteria included current symptoms consistent with COVID-19. No potential participants were excluded.InterventionParticipants volunteered a nasopharyngeal swab and a venous blood sample that were tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA and anti-SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein antibodies, respectively. Results were interpreted in the context of prior illnesses and the hospital departments in which participants worked.Main outcome measureProportion of participants demonstrating infection and positive SARS-CoV-2 serology.ResultsThe point prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 viral carriage was 2.4% (n=13/545). The overall seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was 24.4% (n=126/516). Participants who reported prior symptomatic illness had higher seroprevalence (37.5% vs 17.1%, χ2=21.1034, p<0.0001) and quantitatively greater antibody responses than those who had remained asymptomatic. Seroprevalence was greatest among those working in housekeeping (34.5%), acute medicine (33.3%) and general internal medicine (30.3%), with lower rates observed in participants working in intensive care (14.8%). BAME (Black, Asian and minority ethnic) ethnicity was associated with a significantly increased risk of seropositivity (OR: 1.92, 95% CI 1.14 to 3.23, p=0.01). Working on the intensive care unit was associated with a significantly lower risk of seropositivity compared with working in other areas of the hospital (OR: 0.28, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.78, p=0.02).Conclusions and relevanceWe identify differences in the occupational risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 between hospital departments and confirm asymptomatic seroconversion occurs in healthcare workers. Further investigation of these observations is required to inform future infection control and occupational health practices.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 835
Author(s):  
Mohammed Noushad ◽  
Mohammad Zakaria Nassani ◽  
Anas B. Alsalhani ◽  
Pradeep Koppolu ◽  
Fayez Hussain Niazi ◽  
...  

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused largescale morbidity and mortality and a tremendous burden on the healthcare system. Healthcare workers (HCWs) require adequate protection to avoid onward transmission and minimize burden on the healthcare system. Moreover, HCWs can also influence the general public into accepting the COVID-19 vaccine. Therefore, determining COVID-19 vaccine intention among HCWs is of paramount importance to plan tailor-made public health strategies to maximize vaccine coverage. A structured questionnaire was administered in February and March 2021 among HCWs in Saudi Arabia using convenience sampling, proceeding the launch of the vaccination campaign. HCWs from all administrative regions of Saudi Arabia were included in the study. In total, 674 out of 1124 HCWs responded and completed the survey (response rate 59.9%). About 65 percent of the HCWs intended to get vaccinated. The intention to vaccinate was significantly higher among HCWs 50 years of age or older, Saudi nationals and those who followed the updates about COVID-19 vaccines (p < 0.05). The high percentage (26 percent) of those who were undecided in getting vaccinated is a positive sign. As the vaccination campaign gathers pace, the attitude is expected to change over time. Emphasis should be on planning healthcare strategies to convince the undecided HCWs into accepting the vaccine in order to achieve the coverage required to achieve herd immunity.


Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 465
Author(s):  
Leena R. Baghdadi ◽  
Shatha G. Alghaihb ◽  
Alanoud A. Abuhaimed ◽  
Dania M. Alkelabi ◽  
Rawan S. Alqahtani

In 2019, a novel severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)) caused a global pandemic. There was an urgent need to develop a vaccine against COVID-19 to reduce its spread and economic burden. The main objective of this study was to understand the attitudes and concerns of healthcare workers (HCWs) towards the upcoming COVID-19 vaccine, whether their decision was influenced by their history of taking the seasonal influenza vaccine, and factors that influence the acceptance of the upcoming COVID-19 vaccine. This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We selected and surveyed 356 HCWs via an electronic self-administered questionnaire. A total of 61.16% of HCWs were willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and 55.9% of them had received the seasonal influenza vaccine in the preceding year (2019–2020). The strongest predictors for taking the COVID-19 vaccine were the HCWs’ belief that the COVID-19 vaccine would be safe, needed even for healthy people, that all HCWs should be vaccinated against COVID-19, and that HCWs will have time to take the vaccine. Being female, being middle aged, having <5 years of work experience, having no fear of injections, and being a non-smoker were predictive factors for taking the upcoming COVID-19 vaccine. No associations were found between the intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine and a history of taking the seasonal influenza vaccine.


Author(s):  
Oladele Vincent Adeniyi ◽  
David Stead ◽  
Mandisa Singata-Madliki ◽  
Joanne Batting ◽  
Leo Hyera ◽  
...  

Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of infection by the virulent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Though data exist on the positivity rate of the SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test as well as COVID-19-related deaths amongst HCWs in South Africa, the overall infection rate remains underestimated by these indicators. It is also unclear whether the humoral immune response after SARS-CoV-2 infection offers durable protection against reinfection. This study will assess the SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence amongst HCWs in the Eastern Cape (EC) and examine the longitudinal changes (rate of decay) in the antibody levels after infection in this cohort. Using a multi-stage cluster sampling of healthcare workers in selected health facilities in the EC, a cross-sectional study of 2250 participants will be recruited. In order to assess the community infection rate, 750 antenatal women in the same settings will be recruited. Relevant demographic and clinical characteristics will be obtained by a self-administered questionnaire. A chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) will be used for the qualitative detection of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein. A nested cohort study will be conducted by performing eight-weekly antibody assays (X2) from 201 participants who tested positive for both SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR and serology. Logistic regression models will be fitted to identify the independent risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The cumulative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate and infection fatality rate among the frontline HCWs will be estimated. In addition, the study will highlight the overall effectiveness of infection prevention and control measures (IPC) per exposure sites/wards at the selected health facilities. Findings will inform the South African Department of Health’s policies on how to protect HCWs better as the country prepares for the second wave of the SARS-CoV pandemic.


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. e048586
Author(s):  
Mohamad-Hani Temsah ◽  
Mazin Barry ◽  
Fadi Aljamaan ◽  
Abdullah Alhuzaimi ◽  
Ayman Al-Eyadhy ◽  
...  

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to compare the perception, confidence, hesitancy and acceptance rate of various COVID-19 vaccine types among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Saudi Arabia, a nation with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus experience.DesignNational cross-sectional, pilot-validated questionnaire.SettingOnline, self-administered questionnaire among HCWs.ParticipantsA total of 2007 HCWs working in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia participated; 1512 (75.3%) participants completed the survey and were included in the analysis.InterventionData were collected through an online survey sent to HCWs during 1–15 November 2020. The main outcome measure was HCW acceptance of COVID-19 candidate vaccines. The associated factors of vaccination acceptance were identified through a logistic regression analysis and via measurement of the level of anxiety, using the Generalised Anxiety Disorder 7 scale.ResultsAmong the 1512 HCWs who were included, 62.4% were women, 70.3% were between 21 and 40 years of age, and the majority (62.2%) were from tertiary hospitals. In addition, 59.5% reported knowing about at least one vaccine; 24.4% of the participants were sure about their willingness to receive the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine, and 20.9% were willing to receive the RNA BNT162b2 vaccine. However, 18.3% reported that they would refuse to receive the Ad5-vectored vaccine, and 17.9% would refuse the Gam-COVID-Vac vaccine. Factors that influenced the differential readiness of HCWs included their perceptions of the vaccine’s efficiency in preventing the infection (33%), their personal preferences (29%) and the vaccine’s manufacturing country (28.6%).ConclusionsAwareness by HCWs of the several COVID-19 candidate vaccines could improve their perceptions and acceptance of vaccination. Reliable sources on vaccine efficiency could improve vaccine uptake, so healthcare authorities should use reliable information to decrease vaccine hesitancy among frontline healthcare providers.


Author(s):  
Eman AbdulAziz Balbaid ◽  
Manal abdulaziz Murad ◽  
Hoda Jehad Abousada ◽  
Abdurrahman Yousuf Banjar ◽  
Mashael Abdulghani Taj ◽  
...  

Introduction: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a relatively common and severe complication of SCI and an independent risk factor for mortality. Sickle cell disease is considered one of the most common diseases in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. When a healthy disease related to cardiovascular health is highlighted, sickle cell anemia may be the most common and related disease in high pulmonary pressure. In this study, we aimed to determine prevalence of PHTN in SCA patient, and associated risk factors with it.   Methodology: This is an analytical cross-sectional study conducted in kingdom of Saudi Arabia (General population, SCA patient and CVD patient), from 29/7/2020 till 15/11/2020. The study was depending on online self-reported questionnaire that included assessing the demographic factors as gender, nationality besides, disease-related information:  SCA patient , CVD patient and DM patient. Results: we received 794 responses to our questionnaire where 93.5% of them were Saudi Arabian.  The prevalence of sickle cell anemia is 8.8%. Male represented 29.8% of patients while female represented 52.2% of patients. In SCA patients, the prevalence of PHTN was 31.8%. Moreover, it was found that having cardiac disease is considered a risk factor for developing PHTN where 37.7% of patients having cardiac disease had PHTN compared with 6.2% of health patients (OD: 9.16, 95% CI: 5.5479 to 15.13, P=0.000) while diabetes mellitus increase risk for developing PHTN by more than seven fold (OD: 7.6, 95% CI; 4.7175 to 12.4, P=0.000) and disorder of nervous system by 12 folds (OD: 12.7; 95% CI: 7.6658 to 21.09, P=0.000). Conclusion: we had found that the prevalence if SCA among Saudi Arabia is 8.8% with a higher prevalence in female than male. Moreover, the prevalence of PHTN in SCA patients was high about 31.8% which is much higher than its prevalence in normal individuals. Moreover, it was found that having cardiac disease is considered a risk factor for developing PHTN besides, having diabetic condition and disorder of nervous system which increased risk for developing PHTN in SCA by nine, seven and 12-fold respectively.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (A) ◽  
pp. 651-658
Author(s):  
Mona Mohiedden ◽  
Aml M. Said ◽  
Ahmed M. Ali ◽  
Mohammed M. Abdel Razik ◽  
Maha Ali Gad

BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at the frontline defense against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. AIM: The study aimed to describe the characteristics and appraise potential risk factors of COVID-19 transmission among HCWs who tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) in one of Cairo University Hospitals. METHOD: Cross-sectional descriptive analysis of confirmed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positive versus negative cases for COVID-19. RESULTS: Through March–June 2020, (145/846; 17%) suspected HCWs were tested for COVID-19 by PCR; out of them (70/145; 48.3%) were confirmed as positive, these positive cases represented (70/846; 8.3%) of all HCWs of the hospital. About 33% of confirmed COVID-19 positive HCWs acquired the infection from the healthcare while only (13/70; 19%) from community settings, and no clear exposure data were identified in (34/70; 48%) of cases. Most of symptomatic cases showed a positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 versus asymptomatic cases, p < 0.001. There was no statistical significance regarding gender, age, presence of comorbidity, workload or the type of acquisition. CONCLUSION: HCWs are at an increased risk of COVID-19 infection at the workplace. Strict implementation of infection control measures is of crucial role in preventing transmission of COVID-19 infection in health-care settings.


2021 ◽  
pp. 84-85
Author(s):  
Aditya Rana ◽  
Anuradha Sood

Background: Hepatitis B(HBV) is a blood borne virus and it is one of the most important occupational hazards among healthcare workers (HCWs) & Medical students. This study aimed to measure the anti-HBs titres and to assess the seroprevalence of Hepatitis B in HCW and medical students. It was a prospective,descriptive and cross sectional hospital base Material and method: d study. Medical students and healthcare workers who had received all three doses of hepatitis B vaccination were included in the study. A total of 200 subjects , aged between 18 and Result: 62 years were taken. 182 were vaccinated and 18 were unvaccinated. 85 were males and 115 females. Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B was nil. Antibody titres were >100mIU/ml in 51.6% , 10-100mIU/ml in 16.4% & <10 mIU/ml in 31.8% respectively.Negative correlation of decreasing antibiotic titer and age was seen. HCW and medical students are at hi Conclusion: gher risk due to their continuous exposure to blood products. Vaccination should be compulsory to the HCW and medical workers in the institution as Hepatitis B is a preventable disease. Monitoring of antibody titers should be done from time to time to see waning off antibody titers after vaccination


Vaccines ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 661
Author(s):  
Salah T. Al Awaidy ◽  
Zayid K. Al Mayahi ◽  
Malak Kaddoura ◽  
Ozayr Mahomed ◽  
Nathalie Lahoud ◽  
...  

Background: Seasonal influenza infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are an important target group for vaccination against influenza due to their increased risk of infection and their potential to transmit the infection to their patients, families and communities. The aim of this study was to assess the potential hesitancy and its associated factors towards influenza vaccination amongst HCWs in the South Al Batinah governorate in Oman. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 390 HCWs with direct or indirect patient contact was conducted in May and June 2019 using a self-administered questionnaire. Associations between HCW characteristics and vaccination status were examined using bivariate and multivariate analyses to identify the likelihood of vaccination against seasonal influenza among HCWs. Results: Overall, 60% of HCWs were vaccinated in the 2018/2019 season; vaccine uptake among nurses was 52% and uptake was higher among women. Self-protection and protection of the community were the most cited reasons for vaccine acceptance, with side effects being the main reason for hesitancy. Vaccinated respondents had a higher mean knowledge score (7.18; standard deviation SD: 2.14) than unvaccinated respondents (6.30; SD: 2.2). Odds of vaccination were highest among respondents who believed influenza vaccine should be mandatory for HCWs (Odds ratio (OR): 2.04 [1.30–3.18]), those working in the general medicine, emergency medicine, or intensive care units (OR: 1.92 [1.20–3.10]), nurses and doctors (OR: 1.75 [1.09–2.79]) and those who believe that HCWs should receive an influenza vaccine (OR: 1.35 [1.07–2.77]). Conclusions: The study provides valuable insights into the enablers and barriers of influenza vaccination practices among HCWs and may inform interventions to increase acceptance of vaccination.


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