scholarly journals Analysis of the Healthcare MERS-CoV Outbreak in King Abdulaziz Medical Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, June–August 2015 Using a SEIR Ward Transmission Model

Author(s):  
Tamer Oraby ◽  
Michael G. Tyshenko ◽  
Hanan H. Balkhy ◽  
Yasar Tasnif ◽  
Adriana Quiroz-Gaspar ◽  
...  

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is an emerging zoonotic coronavirus that has a tendency to cause significant healthcare outbreaks among patients with serious comorbidities. We analyzed hospital data from the MERS-CoV outbreak in King Abdulaziz Medical Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, June–August 2015 using the susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered (SEIR) ward transmission model. The SEIR compartmental model considers several areas within the hospital where transmission occurred. We use a system of ordinary differential equations that incorporates the following units: emergency department (ED), out-patient clinic, intensive care unit, and hospital wards, where each area has its own carrying capacity and distinguishes the transmission by three individuals in the hospital: patients, health care workers (HCW), or mobile health care workers. The emergency department, as parameterized has a large influence over the epidemic size for both patients and health care workers. Trend of the basic reproduction number (R0), which reached a maximum of 1.39 at the peak of the epidemic and declined to 0.92 towards the end, shows that until added hospital controls are introduced, the outbreak would continue with sustained transmission between wards. Transmission rates where highest in the ED, and mobile HCWs were responsible for large part of the outbreak.

Author(s):  
Hasan S. Alamri ◽  
Wesam F. Mousa ◽  
Abdullah Algarni ◽  
Shehata F. Megahid ◽  
Ali Al Bshabshe ◽  
...  

Objective: Little is known about the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) among the health care workers in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, the present study aimed to assess the psychological impact of COVID-19 among the health care workers. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted from May till mid-July among 389 health care workers from government and private hospitals in Saudi Arabia. Data was collected using a pre-structured online questionnaire that measured adverse psychological outcomes, including the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) scale and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale. The Pearson chi-square test was used to assess the distribution of depression and anxiety among health care workers. Results: A high level of anxiety was recorded among the health care workers, and 69.3% of health care workers below the age of 40 were found to have depression. There was a significant increase in depression among staff with chronic health problems (72.1% vs. 61.9%; p = 0.048). High anxiety levels were detected among young staff compared to others (68.7% vs. 43.8%; p = 0.001). Moreover, 82.1% of the female staff were anxious, as compared to 55.6% of the males (p = 0.001). Conclusions: We found increased prevalence of adverse psychological outcomes among the health care workers in Saudi Arabia during the outbreak of COVID-19. Therefore, there is a need for proper screening and development of corresponding preventive measures to decrease the adverse psychological outcomes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S297-S297
Author(s):  
Eric G Meissner ◽  
Christine Litwin ◽  
Tricia Crocker ◽  
Elizabeth Mack ◽  
Lauren Card

Abstract Background Health care workers are at significant risk for infection with the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2. Methods We utilized a point-of-care, lateral flow SARS-CoV-2 IgG immunoassay (RayBiotech) to conduct a seroprevalence study in a cohort of at-risk health care workers (n=339) and normal-risk controls (n=100) employed at an academic medical center. To minimize exposure risk while conducting the study, consents were performed electronically, tests were mailed and then self-administered at home using finger stick blood, and subjects uploaded a picture of the test result while answering an electronic questionnaire. We also validated the assay using de-identified serum samples from patients with PCR-proven SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results Between April 14th and May 6th 2020, 439 subjects were enrolled. Subjects were 68% female, 93% white, and most were physicians (38%) and nurses (27%). In addition, 37% had at least 1 respiratory symptom in the prior month, 34% had cared for a patient with known SARS-CoV-2 infection, 57% and 23% were worried about exposure at work or in the community, respectively, and 5 reported prior documented SARS-CoV-2 infection. On initial testing, 3 subjects had a positive IgG test, 336 had a negative test, and 87 had an inconclusive result. Of those with an inconclusive result who conducted a repeat test (85%), 96% had a negative result. All 3 positive IgG tests were in subjects reporting prior documented infection. Laboratory validation showed that of those with PCR-proven infection more than 13 days prior, 23/30 were IgG positive (76% sensitivity), whereas 1/26 with a negative prior PCR test were seropositive (95% specificity). Repeat longitudinal serologic testing every 30 days for up to 4 times is currently in progress. Conclusion We conducted a contact-free study in the setting of a pandemic to assess SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in an at-risk group of health care workers. The only subjects found to be IgG positive were those with prior documented infection, even though a substantial proportion of subjects reported significant potential occupational or community exposure and symptoms that were potentially compatible with SARS-COV-2 infection. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


Author(s):  
Gajanan C. Soyam ◽  
Prabhakar A. Hiwarkar ◽  
Umesh G. Kawalkar ◽  
Vishal C. Soyam ◽  
Vimal K. Gupta

Background: Bio-medical waste management is vital issue not only to hospitals, but also to the environment, law enforcement agency, media and to the general public.The objectives of the study were to find out level of knowledge, attitude and practices of health care workers (HCWs) about bio-medical waste management in a rural hospital of Delhi. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in rural hospital, Delhi on 155 HCWs. Pre-designed, pretested, structured questionnaire were administered on 155 HCWs of hospital. Data collected and analyzed by using SPSS-17. Results: Total of 155 HCWs were selected. Majority of HCWs were in the age group of 30.3 years±5.6 (mean age±SD) Almost half (54.2%) of study population comprised of female. Most of them were nursing staff. Mean years of experience in service was 4.8±3.7 (mean age±SD). Majority HCWs in this study took education up to senior secondary and they possess respective professional qualification. Statistically significant numbers of HCWs vaccinated with HBV vaccine and received training of bio-medical waste management (p<0.05). Almost all (97.4%) HCWs aware of bio-medical waste management rules and have very positive attitude. Practice of HCWs regarding bio-medical waste management was relatively poor. Conclusions: Nursing staff have not only best knowledge and attitude but also good practices among all HCWs. Additional training have been required to Paramedics and group-D workers.  


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruqayyah B. Al Anazi ◽  
Saeed M. AlQahtani ◽  
Amal E. Mohamad ◽  
Sabry M. Hammad ◽  
Hossam Khleif

Background. Violence against health-care workers (HCWs) showed increasing worldwide concern. No previous studies addressed violence against HCWs in the Northern region, Saudi Arabia. Objectives. To determine the prevalence of violence against HCWs in public hospitals and primary health-care centers in Arar city, KSA, and to identify its associated factors. Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 352 HCWs in the Ministry of Health (MOH) facilities in Arar city from 1st October to 31st December 2018. Consented HCWs completed a structured self-administered questionnaire which was modified from the WHO questionnaire for violence. Results. Out of 352 health-care workers, 171 (48.6%) reported exposure to violence during work in the past year. The verbal violence was the most common form experienced (83%). Physicians were the main exposed group (59%). Being non-Saudi HCWs, older with longer duration of experience, working in hospitals, working in the emergency room, and working in evening or night shifts were significantly associated with more exposure to violence. The unmet demand for the patient and deficient staff number were the leading reasons for aggression. Only 16.4% of assaulted HCWs reported the violent acts to the higher health affairs authority with the most frequent reasons for nonreporting were their perception that it was useless and their fear of negative consequences. Conclusions. Violence against HCWs in Arar city, KSA, is a prevalent problem. Improving health security system and increasing staffing and their training on proper dealing with violence are highly recommended. Also, enforcing rules and regulations is an important demand to control and prevent violence against HCWs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 321-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nabil J. Awadalla ◽  
Hassan Mohammed Al-Musa ◽  
Khalid Mohammed Al-Musa ◽  
Abdulmajeed Mohammed Asiri ◽  
Ahmed Ali Albariqi ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 3 (3) ◽  
pp. 123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziad A. Memish ◽  
Abdullah M. Assiri ◽  
Mervat M. Eldalatony ◽  
Hanan M. Hathout ◽  
Hend Alzoman ◽  
...  

1997 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 141-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard F Salluzzo ◽  
Joel M Bartfield ◽  
Howard Freed ◽  
Mark Graber ◽  
Terry Peters

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