SARS-CoV-2 IgG Surveillance in Asymptomatic Blood Donors and Health Workers

Background and Objectives. SARS-CoV-2 virus has caused a global pandemic as declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO) in March 2020. In India, the first case was reported in Kerala on the 30th of January, and since then, many states are active but some are showing flattening. Following the seroprevalence testing in healthy blood donors, we can monitor the spread of the virus among healthy people, thus eventually leading to implementing strategies to reduce the spread. Thus, a need was felt to conduct a study to assess the IgG antibody status in healthcare workers differentiating those who were in COVID-19 and others in non-COVID-19 emergency duties during this pandemic. Materials and Methods. 2085 blood donors were allowed to donate blood only after fulfilling all the criteria laid down by the FDA of India with additional history of excluding COVID-19 suspects. IgG antibody testing was performed by chemiluminescence, and results were noted along with their reactive status. Their reactive status was analyzed with donor information to get an idea of the risk parameters for COVID-19. Medical healthcare workers in whom the study was carried out were 560, out of which 114 had worked in COVID-19 duties and 446 had worked in non-COVID-19 emergencies areas. COVID-19 area duties were further subdivided into triage, holding area, isolation, and COVID-19-related duties. The samples were run on architect i2000 and evaluated for their plasma immunoglobulin G. Results. Amongst the asymptomatic blood donors, 1.9% was found to be COVID-19 IgG antibody positive. It was observed that maximum COVID-19 IgG positivity (57.1%) was seen in the age group 18–29 years followed by 26.2% in the age group 30–39 years. Donors in the age group 40–49 years showed antibody positivity of 16.7%, and no antibody-positive donors were found above 50 years of age. COVID-19 IgG positivity was maximum in replacement donors (61.9%) followed by family donors (28.6%) and least involuntary donors (0.6%) Blood donors who showed high IgG positivity were mainly of labor class. Antibody IgG testing on medical healthcare workers showed 2.3% positivity. The healthcare workers who were posted in COVID-19 duties showed 4.8% positivity in the holding area (waiting area with the treatment of patients till their RT PCR report comes) and 5.7% in other COVID-19 areas related to laboratory work. Healthcare workers doing duties in COVID-19 areas showed 2.7% positivity, while those doing duties in non-COVID-19 emergency areas showed a positivity of 2.2%. Conclusion. Our study shows that the prevalence of detectable antibodies was low in the general population in India and many patients were asymptomatic as seen in the blood donors, especially the labor class. Maximum exposure was present in young healthy males of labor class who remained asymptomatic. The healthcare workers were more exposed to COVID-19 as compared to the general population probably due to lack of precaution and awareness. Those doing non-COVID-19 duties were also exposed appreciably and needed to take all the precautions required for COVID-19 duties.

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Deep Learning Detection of COVID-19, Temporal Variation and its Link with Temperature in Nigeria

Asian Journal of Research in Computer Science ◽

10.9734/ajrcos/2021/v7i330182 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 55-62

Author(s):

Ebiendele Eromosele Precious

Keyword(s):

Deep Learning ◽

Health Workers ◽

World Health ◽

Religious Activities ◽

X Ray ◽

Global Pandemic ◽

First Case ◽

Average Accuracy ◽

Maximum Temperatures ◽

Health Organization

COVID-19 was announced as a global pandemic on 11 March 2020 by the World Health Organization due to its spread globally. Nigeria recorded its first case on 27 February 2020. Since then, it has spread to all parts of the country. In this paper we study the effectiveness and skill performance of deep learning architectures in assisting health workers in detecting COVID-19 infected patient through X-ray images. Analytical deductions obtained from 500 X-ray images of both infected and non-infected patients confirmed that our proposed model InceptionV3 is effective in detecting COVID-19 and attain an average accuracy of 92%. The relationship or link between the COVID-19 daily occurrence and two meteorological variables (minimum and maximum temperatures) are further assessed. The result also indicated that the cases recorded in Wednesdays and Fridays are observed to be higher than other days which usually coincide with either religious activities or market days in the country, while a progressively decline in weekday cases is observed towards the weekend with Sundays (ranging from 152 to 280 cases) having the lowest cases. The study further indicated statistically that COVID-19 daily cases significantly decline when maximum and minimum temperature are increasing (-0.79 and -0.44 correlation coefficient).

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Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Among Healthcare Workers at a Tertiary Academic Hospital in New York City

10.1101/2020.05.27.20090811 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Mayce Mansour ◽

Emily Levin ◽

Kimberly Muellers ◽

Kimberly Stone ◽

Rao Mendu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Igg Antibodies ◽

Academic Hospital ◽

Antibody Testing ◽

Igg Antibody ◽

Frontline Staff ◽

High Exposure ◽

Cdc Guidelines ◽

Viral Illness

Background: SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing is important for understanding immunity prevalence, and may have implications for healthcare workers (HCW) during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Methods: We conducted immunologic testing of healthcare workers to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG in this population. HCW were advised to wait at least two weeks from time of symptom onset or suspected exposure before undergoing testing. All participants were self-reported asymptomatic for at least three days at the time of testing. Results: Two hundred eighty-five samples were collected from March 24, 2020 to April 4, 2020. The average age of participants was 38 years (range 18-84), and 54% were male. Thirty-three percept tested IgG positive, 3% tested weakly positive, and 64% tested negative. Neither age nor sex was associated with antibody development. Conclusion: Thirty-six percent of HCW had IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, reflecting the high exposure of inpatient and ambulatory frontline staff to this viral illness, most of whom had minimal symptoms and were working in the weeks preceding testing. While we continue to recommend standard protective precautions per CDC guidelines for all HCW, HCW with SARS-CoV-2 IgG may become our safest frontline providers as we learn if our IgG antibodies confer immunity. Knowing IgG antibody status may ease concerns regarding personal risk as this pandemic continues.

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Kinetics and performance of the Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody assay

10.1101/2020.07.03.20145722 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Fergus Hamilton ◽

Peter Muir ◽

Marie Attwood ◽

Alan Noel ◽

Barry Vipond ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Workers ◽

Clinical Settings ◽

Antibody Testing ◽

Antibody Assay ◽

Igg Antibody ◽

Negative Results ◽

Hospitalised Patients ◽

And Performance ◽

Negative Controls ◽

Abbott Architect

ObjectivesTo assess the performance (sensitivity and specificity) of the Abbott Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody assay across three clinical settings.MethodsAntibody testing was performed on three clinical cohorts of COVID-19 disease: hospitalised patients with PCR confirmation, hospitalized patients with a clinical diagnosis but negative PCR, and symptomatic healthcare workers (HCW’s). Pre-pandemic respiratory infection sera were tested as negative controls. The sensitivity of the assay was calculated at different time points (<5 days, 5-9 days, 10-14 days, 15-19 days, >20 days, >42 days), and compared between cohorts.ResultsPerformance of the Abbot Architect SARS-CoV-2 assay varied significantly between cohorts. For PCR confirmed hospitalised patients (n = 114), early sensitivity was low: <5 days: 44.4% (95%CI: 18.9%-73.3%), 5-9 days: 32.6% (95%CI, 20.5%-47.5%), 10-14 days: 65.2% (95% CI 44.9%-81.2%), 15-20 days: 66.7% (95% CI: 39.1%-86.2%) but by day 20, sensitivity was 100% (95%CI, 86.2-100%).In contrast, 17 out of 114 symptomatic healthcare workers tested at >20 days had negative results, generating a sensitivity of 85.1% (95%CI, 77.4% - 90.5%). All pre-pandemic sera were negative, a specificity of 100%. Seroconversion rates were similar for PCR positive and PCR negative hospitalised cases.ConclusionsThe sensitivity of the Abbot Architect SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay increases over time, with sensitivity not peaking until 20 days post symptoms. Performance varied markedly by setting, with sensitivity significantly worse in symptomatic healthcare workers than in the hospitalised cohort. Clinicians, policymakers, and patients should be aware of the reduced sensitivity in this setting.

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Role of the Media in Health-Related Awareness Campaigns on Perceptions of COVID-19: A Pre-Post Study in the General Population of Pakistan

10.21203/rs.3.rs-76623/v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Atta Ur Rehman ◽

Rubeena Zakar ◽

Muhammaz Zakria Zakar ◽

Ume Hani ◽

Florian Fischer

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

General Population ◽

World Health ◽

Health Awareness ◽

Awareness Campaigns ◽

First Case ◽

The Media ◽

Knowledge Gains ◽

Over Time

Abstract Background: In January 2020, the World Health Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global public health emergency. Medical preparedness and community education are the most valuable preventive tools for combatting this pandemic. The objective of this study was to assess the role of media public health awareness campaigns on the knowledge of the general population about COVID-19 in Rawalpindi, Pakistan.Methods: A quantitative study using a pre-post design among 384 respondents was conducted. To recruit study participants, a systematic random sampling technique was used. A structured questionnaire was administered to the participants twice: The first response (t1) from participants was filled in during the first week in February 2020 before any confirmed cases were reported in the country, and the second response (t2) was completed one month after the first case detection in Pakistan (March 2020). Media health awareness campaigns were launched just after the detection of the first case in Pakistan. Data was analysed by computing descriptive statistics and paired t-tests to measure the level of association between variables.Results: Exposure to the media and knowledge relating to COVID-19, particularly its symptoms and frequent handwashing as a preventive measure, increased over time. Whereas only a quarter of respondents judged the isolation of suspected cases in quarantine to be important to prevent the spread of infection in society at t1, more than half did so at t2. The same increase was visible in relation to the statement that a lockdown helps to follow social distancing. Socio-demographic characteristics were not significantly associated with knowledge (gains). However, more frequent use of electronic media is associated with greater knowledge gains from t1 to t2.Conclusions: The findings of this study provide evidence that awareness and knowledge related to COVID-19 symptoms and preventive measures increased significantly over time. The increased frequency of following the media indicates that health awareness campaigns are important for enhancing the knowledge of the general public regarding COVID-19.

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Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody seroprevalence among truck drivers and assistants in Kenya

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofab314 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

E Wangeci Kagucia ◽

John N Gitonga ◽

Catherine Kalu ◽

Eric Ochomo ◽

Benard Ochieng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Workers ◽

Blood Donors ◽

Geographical Area ◽

Truck Drivers ◽

Igg Antibody ◽

Increased Risk

Abstract In October 2020, anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG seroprevalence among truck drivers and their assistants (TDA) in Kenya was 42.3%, higher than among healthcare workers and blood donors. TDA transport essential supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic, placing them at increased risk of being infected and of transmitting SARS-CoV-2 over a wide geographical area.

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Use of U.S. Blood Donors for National Serosurveillance of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies: Basis for an Expanded National Donor Serosurveillance Program.

10.1101/2021.05.01.21255576 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mars Stone ◽

Clara Di Germanio ◽

David J. Wright ◽

Hasan Sulaeman ◽

Honey Dave ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

General Population ◽

Blood Donors ◽

Antibody Testing ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Metropolitan Regions ◽

Seroprevalence Study ◽

Seroprevalence Data ◽

Epidemic Response ◽

Over Time

Introduction: The REDS-IV-P Epidemiology, Surveillance and Preparedness of the Novel SARS-CoV-2 Epidemic (RESPONSE) seroprevalence study conducted monthly cross-sectional testing for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies on blood donors in six U.S. metropolitan regions to estimate the extent of SARS-COV-2 infections over time. Study Design/Methods During March-August 2020, approximately ≥1,000 serum specimens were collected monthly from each region and tested for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies using a well-validated algorithm. Regional seroprevalence estimates were weighted based on demographic differences with the general population. Seroprevalence was compared with reported COVID-19 case rates over time. Results/Findings: For all regions, seroprevalence was <1.0% in March 2020. New York experienced the biggest increase (peak seroprevalence, 15.8 % in May). All other regions experienced modest increases in seroprevalence(1-2% in May-June to 2-4% in July-August). Seroprevalence was higher in younger, non-Hispanic Black, and Hispanic donors. Temporal increases in donor seroprevalence correlated with reported case rates in each region. In August, 1.3-5.6 estimated cumulative infections (based on seroprevalence data) per COVID-19 case reported to CDC. Conclusion: Increases in seroprevalence were found in all regions, with the largest increase in New York. Seroprevalence was higher in non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic blood donors than in non-Hispanic White blood donors. SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing of blood donor samples can be used to estimate the seroprevalence in the general population by region and demographic group. The methods derived from the RESPONSE seroprevalence study served as the basis for expanding SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence surveillance to all 50 states and Puerto Rico.

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COVID-19 and Italian Healthcare Workers From the Initial Sacrifice to the mRNA Vaccine: Pandemic Chrono-History, Epidemiological Data, Ethical Dilemmas, and Future Challenges

Frontiers in Public Health ◽

10.3389/fpubh.2020.591900 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Matteo Nioi ◽

Pietro Emanuele Napoli ◽

Jessica Lobina ◽

Maurizio Fossarello ◽

Ernesto d'Aloja

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

World Health ◽

First Case ◽

Future Challenges ◽

Critical Issues ◽

Therapeutic Measures ◽

The Media ◽

Health Organization

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak a pandemic. Simultaneously, in Italy, in which the first case had occurred on February 18, the rigid phase of the lockdown began. The country has attracted worldwide attention, becoming at the same time a field of study both concerning the spread of the pandemic and advanced assessments of the effectiveness of political, public health, and therapeutic measures. The protagonists of the Italian crisis were the healthcare workers (HCWs) who were exposed to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) without having any perception of what they were facing, courageously contributing to the containment of the epidemic to be defined by the media as “heroes.” However, in the first phase of the pandemic (March–May 2020), the price that the Italian Public Health System had to pay both in terms of the number of positive virus cases and deaths among the HCWs was beyond and represented a peculiarity compared to what happened in other countries. In the current study, after a summary of the evolution of the pandemic in Italy, we offer an analysis of the statistical data concerning contagions and deaths among healthcare workers (physicians in particular). In conclusion, we describe the critical issues that still need to be resolved and the future challenges facing healthcare workers and the general population.

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Differences Between Health Workers and General Population in Risk Perception, Behaviors, and Psychological Distress Related to COVID-19 Spread in Italy

10.31234/osf.io/qv43h ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Luca Simione ◽

Camilla Gnagnarella

Keyword(s):

Psychological Distress ◽

Risk Perception ◽

General Population ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Health Workers ◽

Psychological Needs ◽

Psychological State ◽

Online Questionnaire ◽

South Italy ◽

Living Area

In this study, we investigated the perception of risk and the worries about COVID-19 infection in both healthcare workers and general population in Italy. We studied the difference in risk perception in these two groups, and how this related to demographic variables and psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, and death anxiety. To this aim, we administered an online questionnaire about COVID-19 together with other questionnaires assessing the psychological condition of participants. First, we found that the exposition to infection risk, due to living area or job, increased the perceived stress and anxiety (i.e. medical staff in North Italy was more stressed and anxious respect to both medical- and non-medical participants from Center and South Italy). Then, we conducted hierarchical logistic regression models on our data to assess the response odds ratio relatively to each predictor on each dependent variable. We found that health workers reported higher risk perception, level of worry, and knowledge as related to COVID-19 infection compared to general population. Also psychological state, gender, and living area were important predictors of these factors. Instead, judgments about behaviors and containment rules were more linked to demographics, such as gender and alcohol consumption. We discussed these results in the light of risk factors for psychological distress and possible interventions to meet the psychological needs of healthcare workers.

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THE PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON FRONTLINE HEALTHCARE WORKERS IN MOROCCO

International Journal of Advanced Research ◽

10.21474/ijar01/13466 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (09) ◽

pp. 678-689

Author(s):

I. Hanine ◽

◽

I. Hmamouchi ◽

S. Belbachir ◽

M. Chtibi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Perceived Stress ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Health Workers ◽

Psychological Impact ◽

Medical Personnel ◽

Severity Index ◽

University Hospital ◽

World Health ◽

Frontline Healthcare Workers ◽

The Impact

Introduction: On March 11th 2020, the World Health Organization declared the infection of the virus severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 or SARS-COV-2 a pandemic. The virus, which was first discovered in China in Wuhan province in December 2019, has affected more than 100 million people and more than two million deaths in more than 200 countries.Along with other epidemics and pandemics, the existence of this virus has led to psychiatric disorders in people in or without direct contact with the disease, especially frontline healthcare workers. Objective: To assess the impact of the virus on medical personnel working in Morocco, in particular stress, depression and sleep disorders. Methodology: To explore this topic, we used an anonymity questionnaire based on, in addition to individual status and conditions, scales assessing stress, depression and sleep.The questionnaire was sent via social networks to health personnel working in Morocco in the various hospitals and departments treating patients infected with this virus.The CES-D (Center of Epidemiological Studies - Depression) scales for depression, the PSS-10 (Cohens Perceived Stress Scale) for perceived stress and ISI (C. Morins Insomnia Severity Index) for disorders of sleep, were chosen given their frequent use in a number of studies on the same topic. Results: After sorting our responsesrigorously, we were able to collect 376 responses, of which 53.5% were women, with an average age of 28.45 years, 23.9% were nurses, 14.4% general practitioners, 19, 7% of internal doctors 37.2% of residents or specialists and 4.8% occupied other functions such as medical transport. 66% of our candidates were at the level of the different university hospital centers of Morocco.Our candidates respectively occupied 39.1% 28.2% 29% and 25.8% triage positions, observation of suspected cases, the COVID sector and resuscitation.Regarding our results, it was observed that 71% of our participants presented moderate stress, 44.9% had a risk of developing depression and 53.7 had insomnia of varying severity.The female sex, the lack of medical, surgical and psychiatric history influence the occurrence of the three abnormalities studied, it should also be noted that these last three maintain a relationship of influences between them. Conclusion: The exploration of stress, depression and insomnia revealed an impact of the state of health on the daily life of front-line health workers in Morocco.

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