scholarly journals Increased Transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha Variant in a Japanese Population

Author(s):  
Hideo Tanaka ◽  
Atsushi Hirayama ◽  
Hitomi Nagai ◽  
Chika Shirai ◽  
Yuki Takahashi ◽  
...  

To assess the relative transmissibility of the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant compared to the pre-existing SARS-CoV-2 in Japan, we performed a cross-sectional study to determine the secondary attack rate of COVID-19 in household contacts before and after the Alpha variant became dominant in Osaka. We accessed 290 household contacts whose index cases were diagnosed between 1 and 20 December 2020 (the third epidemic group), at a time when Osaka was free of the Alpha variant. We also accessed 398 household contacts whose index cases were diagnosed between 20 April and 3 May 2021 (the fourth epidemic group), by which time the Alpha variant had become dominant. We identified 124 household contacts whose index case was determined positive for the Alpha variant (Alpha group) in this fourth group. The secondary attack rates in the fourth group (34.7%) and the Alpha group (38.7%) were significantly higher than that in the third group (19.3%, p < 0.001). Multivariable Poisson regression analysis with a robust error variance showed a significant excess risk in the fourth group (1.90, 95% CI = 1.47–2.48) and the Alpha group (2.34, 95% CI = 1.71–3.21). This finding indicates that the SARS-CoV-2 Alpha variant has an approximately 1.9–2.3-fold higher transmissibility than the pre-existing virus in the Japanese population.

2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Burmen ◽  
Kennedy Mutai ◽  
Timothy Malika

Isoniazid Preventative Therapy (IPT) is recommended for children aged less than 5 years that have been in contact with an open case of TB, and screen negative for TB, to prevent the risk of TB progression. We examined IPT uptake among child household contacts of TB index cases, within a TB case detection study, in a high TB burden region. A cross-sectional study involving all IPT-eligible children drawn from a TB case detection study was done in Kisumu County, Kenya between 2014 and 2015. By linking a subset of the study database to the TB program IPT register, we described Child contacts as initiated on IPT and TB index cases as having child contacts initiated on IPT based on whether their names or their child contacts names respectively, were found in the IPT register. Logistic regression analysis was used to describe index and contact characteristics associated with IPT initiation. Of 555 TB index cases recruited into the study, 243 (44%) had a total of 337 IPT-eligible child contacts. Forty-seven (19%) index cases that had child contacts initiated on IPT; they were more likely to have been diagnosed with smear positive TB compared to those who were diagnosed with smear negative TB (OR 5.1, 95% CI 1.1-23.2; P=0.03) and to reside in rural Kisumu compared to those in urban Kisumu (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.6-6.8; P<0.01). The 51 (15%) child contacts that were initiated on IPT were more likely to be were first degree relatives of the index case compared to those who were not (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.2-5.5; P=0.02) and to reside in rural Kisumu compared to those in urban Kisumu (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.2-5.1; P<0.01). IPT initiation, which is influenced by index and contact characteristics, is suboptimal. The TB program should provide health worker training, avail appropriate pediatric TB diagnostic tools, job aids and monitoring tools, and ensure continuous supply of medication, and to facilitate IPT implementation. Additionally, targeted health education interventions should be formulated to reach those who are unlikely to accept IPT.


2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara Burmen ◽  
Kennedy Mutai ◽  
Timothy Malika

Background Isoniazid Preventative Therapy (IPT) is recommended for children aged less than 5 years that have been in contact with an open case of TB and screen negative for TB to prevent the risk of TB progression. We examined IPT uptake among child household contacts of TB index cases within a TB case detection study in a high TB burden region. Methods A cross-sectional study involving all IPT eligible children drawn from a TB case detection study was done in Kisumu County, Kenya between 2014 and 2015. By linking a subset study database to the TB program IPT register, we described Child contacts as ‘initiated on IPT’ and TB index cases as ‘having child contacts initiated on IPT’ based on whether their names or their child contacts names respectively, were found in the IPT register. Logistic regression analysis was used to describe index and contact characteristics associated with IPT initiation Results Of 555 TB index cases into the study, 243 (44%) had a total of 337 IPT-eligible child household contacts. Forty-seven (19%) index cases that had child contacts initiated on IPT; they were more likely to have been diagnosed with smear positive TB compared to those who were diagnosed with smear negative TB (OR 5.1, 95% CI 1.1-23.2; p=0.03) and to reside in rural Kisumu compared to those in urban Kisumu (OR 3.3, 05% CI 1.6-6.8; p<0.01). The 51 (15%) child contacts that were initiated on IPT were more likely to be were first degree relatives of the index case compared to those who were not (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.2-5.5; p=0.02) and to reside in rural Kisumu compared to those in urban Kisumu (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.2-5.1; p<0.01). Conclusion IPT initiation, which is influenced by index and contact characteristics, is suboptimal. The TB program should provide health worker training, avail appropriate pediatric TB diagnostic tools and continuous supply of medication, and job aids and monitoring tools to facilitate IPT implementation. Additionally, targeted health education interventions should be formulated to reach those who are unlikely to accept IPT.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mattia Trunfio ◽  
Bianca Maria Longo ◽  
Francesca Alladio ◽  
Francesco Venuti ◽  
Francesco Cerutti ◽  
...  

Background: Emerging evidence supports the “variolation hypothesis” in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), but the derivative idea that the viral load of index cases may predict disease severity in secondary cases could be unsubstantiated. We assessed whether the prevalence of symptomatic infections, hospitalization, and deaths in household contacts of 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases differed according to the SARS-CoV-2 PCR cycle threshold (Ct) from nasal-pharyngeal swab at diagnosis of linked index cases.Methods: Cross-sectional study on household contacts of COVID-19 cases randomly sampled from all the infections diagnosed in March at our Microbiology Laboratory (Amedeo di Savoia, Turin). Data were retrospectively collected by phone interviews and from the Piedmont regional platform for COVID-19 emergency. Index cases were classified as high (HVl) and low viral load (LVl) according to two exploratory cut-offs of RdRp gene Ct value. Secondary cases were defined as swab confirmed or symptom based likely when not tested but presenting compatible clinical picture.Results: One hundred thirty-two index cases of whom 87.9% symptomatic and 289 household contacts were included. The latter were male and Caucasian in 44.3 and 95.8% of cases, with a median age of 34 years (19–57). Seventy-four were swab confirmed and other 28 were symptom based likely secondary cases. Considering both, the contacts of HVl and LVl did not differ in the prevalence of symptomatic infections nor COVID-19-related hospitalization and death. No difference in median Ct of index cases between symptomatic and asymptomatic, hospitalized and not hospitalized, or deceased and survived secondary cases was found. Negative findings were confirmed after adjusting for differences in time between COVID-19 onset and swab collection of index cases (median 5 days) and after removing pediatric secondary cases.Conclusions: The amount of SARS-CoV-2 of the source at diagnosis does not predict clinical outcomes of linked secondary cases. Considering the impelling release of assays for SARS-CoV-2 RNA exact quantification, these negative findings should inform clinical and public health strategies on how to interpret and use the data.


2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 436-445
Author(s):  
Nishi Suryavanshi ◽  
Matthew Murrill ◽  
Amita Gupta ◽  
Michael Hughes ◽  
Anneke Hesseling ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Household contacts (HHCs) of individuals with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) are at high risk of infection and subsequent disease. There is limited evidence on the willingness of MDR-TB HHCs to take MDR-TB preventive therapy (MDR TPT) to decrease their risk of TB disease. Methods In this cross-sectional study of HHCs of MDR-TB and rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB) index cases from 16 clinical research sites in 8 countries, enrollees were interviewed to assess willingness to take a hypothetical, newly developed MDR TPT if offered. To identify factors associated with willingness to take MDR TPT, a marginal logistic model was fitted using generalized estimating equations to account for household-level clustering. Results From 278 MDR-TB/RR-TB index case households, 743 HHCs were enrolled; the median age of HHCs was 33 (interquartile range, 22–49) years, and 62% were women. HHC willingness to take hypothetical MDR TPT was high (79%) and remained high even with the potential for mild side effects (70%). Increased willingness was significantly associated with current employment or schooling (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.83 [95% confidence interval {CI}, 1.07–3.13]), appropriate TB-related knowledge (aOR, 2.22 [95% CI, 1.23–3.99]), confidence in taking MDR TPT (aOR, 7.16 [95% CI, 3.33–15.42]), and being comfortable telling others about taking MDR TPT (aOR, 2.29 [95% CI, 1.29–4.06]). Conclusions The high percentage of HHCs of MDR-TB/RR-TB index cases willing to take hypothetical MDR TPT provides important evidence for the potential uptake of effective MDR TPT when implemented. Identified HHC-level variables associated with willingness may inform education and counseling efforts to increase HHC confidence in and uptake of MDR TPT.


Author(s):  
Kavindhran Velen ◽  
Laura J Podewils ◽  
N Sarita Shah ◽  
James J Lewis ◽  
Tiro Dinake ◽  
...  

Abstract Background We describe the performance of GeneXpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) for diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) among symptomatic household contacts (HHCs) of rifampicin-resistant and drug-sensitive index cases. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional study among HHCs of recently diagnosed (&lt;2 weeks) smear-positive and Xpert-positive index cases in the Bojanala District, South Africa. HHCs were screened for TB symptoms; persons with ≥1 TB symptom provided one sputum for smear microscopy, Xpert and MGIT culture. Diagnostic test performance of Xpert was determined using MGIT as reference standard. Results From August 2013 to July 2015, 619 HHCs from 216 index cases were enrolled: 60.6% were female, median age was 22 years (inter-quartile range: 9, 40) and 126 (20.4%) self-reported/tested HIV-positive. 54.3% (336/619) of contacts had ≥1 TB symptom (cough, fever, night sweats, weight loss), of which 297/336 (88.4%) provided a sputum; 289 (97.3%) had complete testing and 271 were included in the analysis. In total, 42 (6.8%) of 619 HHCs had microbiologically-confirmed TB. MGIT identified 33 HHCs as positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB); of these, 7 were positive on Xpert resulting in a sensitivity of 21.2% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.0, 38.9), specificity 98.3% (95% CI: 95.6, 99.5), positive predictive value (PPV) 63.6% (95% CI: 30.8, 89.1), negative predictive value (NPV) 90.0 (95% CI: 85.7, 93.4). Conclusions Among symptomatic HHCs investigated for TB, Xpert performed sub-optimally compared to MGIT culture. The poor performance of Xpert for diagnosing TB suggests that a more sensitive test, such a Xpert Ultra or culture, may be needed to improve yield of contact investigation, where feasible.


Author(s):  
Robert Kakaire ◽  
Noah Kiwanuka ◽  
Sarah Zalwango ◽  
Juliet N Sekandi ◽  
Trang Ho Thu Quach ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Although households of tuberculosis (TB) cases represent a setting for intense transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, household exposure accounts for &lt;20% of transmission within a community. The aim of this study was to estimate excess risk of M. tuberculosis infection among household and extra-household contacts of index cases. Methods We performed a cross-sectional study in Kampala, Uganda, to delineate social networks of TB cases and matched controls without TB. We estimated the age-stratified prevalence difference of TB infection between case and control networks, partitioned as household and extra-household contacts. Results We enrolled 123 index cases, 124 index controls, and 2415 first-degree network contacts. The prevalence of infection was highest among household contacts of cases (61.5%), lowest among household contacts of controls (25.2%), and intermediary among extra-household TB contacts (44.9%) and extra-household control contacts (41.2%). The age-adjusted prevalence difference between extra-household contacts of cases and their controls was 5.4%. The prevalence of infection was similar among the majority of extra-household case contacts and corresponding controls (47%). Conclusions Most first-degree social network members of TB cases do not have adequate contact with the index case to experience additional risk for infection, but appear instead to acquire infection through unrecognized exposures with infectious cases in the community.


Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 747
Author(s):  
Sahbanathul Missiriya Jalal ◽  
Fahima Akhter ◽  
Amal Ismael Abdelhafez ◽  
Ahmed Mansour Alrajeh

Biomedical waste (BMW) management is an essential practice of healthcare professionals (HCPs) for preventing health and also environmental hazards. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic, posing significant challenges for healthcare sectors. A cross-sectional study was performed to assess the knowledge, practice, and attitude on BMW management among HCPs when taking care of patients with COVID-19 and associated with demographic variables. From Al-Ahsa healthcare sectors, 256 HCPs were selected randomly, of which 105 (41%) had excellent knowledge, 87 (34%) had good knowledge, and 64 (25%) had poor knowledge with a mean score of 13.1 ± 3.6. A higher mean score was (14.4 ± 3.2) obtained by physicians, and (13.6 ± 3.8) nurses than the other HCPs. Regarding practice, 72 (28.1%) HCPs used and discarded PPE while handling biomedical wastes. Additionally, 88 (34.4%) followed proper hand hygiene before and after each procedure and whenever needed. Physicians, nurses, and respiratory therapists had a more favorable attitude than other HCPs. There was a statistically significant association found among knowledge level and educational qualification (p < 0.0001), gender (p < 0.001), and work experience (p < 0.05). Emphasis is needed to train all HCPs regarding proper BMW management during this pandemic to prevent infection transmission.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S416-S417
Author(s):  
Kamile Arıkan ◽  
Nuri Bayram ◽  
İlker devrim ◽  
Ayküke Akaslan-Kara

Abstract Background Micafungin is one of three currently available echinocandin for treatment of candidiasis and candidemia. Methods Children who were treated for micafungin for possible or proven invasive Candidia infection between May 2017 and October 2019 were included. Results In this cross-sectional study, totally 78 children with a median age of 3 months (8 days -17 years), 50 (64.1%, F/M: 0.56) male were included. Thirty four (43.6%) patients were neonate, 26 (76 %) of them were premature. Thirty seven patients (47.4%) received micafungin for candidemia and 41 (52.6%) patients received micafungin empirically for IC. Twelve (32.4%) Candida spp cultured were C. albicans, the rest twenty five (67.6%) Candida spp were non-albicans Candida spp. The most commonly cultured Candida spp was Candida parapsilosis (C. parapsilosis) (n=13) followed by C. albicans (n=12), C. glabrata (n=3), C. tropicalis (n=3), C. guilliermondii (n=3), C. krusei (n=2) respectively. Resistance rate of C. parapsilosis (n=13) isolates to fluconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B, caspofungin, micafungin were as follows respectively; 66.7%, 100%, 69.2%, 90.9%, 37.5% respectively. Resistance rate of C. albicans (n=11) isolates to fluconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B, caspofungin, micafungin were as follows respectively; 50%, 50%, 12.5%, 42.9%, 0% respectively. None of the C. tropicalis, C. guilliermondii and C. krusei isolates were resistant to micafungin. Culture negativity could not be achieved at the end of 14th day of micafungin treatment in the 15 (16.9%) candidemia episodes. The most commonly isolated Candida spp in patients with treatment failure was C. parapsilosis (n=7), the other species were; C. albicans (n=5), C. guilliermondii (n=1), C. tropicalis (n=1) and C. tropicalis and C. guilliermondii coinfection (n=1) respectively. Median serum AST, ALT and creatinin levels didn’t increase during and at the end of micafungin therapy. None of these patients had experienced an anormal kidney or liver function tests due to micafungin usage. Characteristics of patients who received micafungin.and cultured Candida spp Antifungal resistance patterns of Candida spp. Laboratory change before and after micafungin treatment Conclusion Increase in fluconazole resistant Candida spp makes micafungin a reasonable and effective choice for suspected or proven invasive candidiasis Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Bosco ◽  
S Gambelli ◽  
V Urbano ◽  
G Cevenini ◽  
G Messina

Abstract Background Sanitizing the operating theatres (OT) is important to minimize risk of post-operative infections. Disinfection procedures between one operation and another is less aggressive than final cleaning procedures, at the end of the day. Aim was assessing the difference of contamination: i) between different levels of disinfection; ii) before and after the use of a UVC Device (UVC-D). Methods Between December 2019/February 2020 a cross sectional study was conducted in OT in a real clinical context. 94 Petri dishes (PD) were used in 3 OT. Three different sanitation levels (SL1-3) were compared pre- and post-use of UVC-D: i) No cleaning after surgery (SL1); ii) after in-between cleaning (SL2); iii) after terminal cleaning (SL3). UVC-D was employed for 6 minutes, 3 minutes per bed side. PD were incubated at 36 °C and colony forming unit (CFU) counted at 48h. Descriptive statistic, Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests were performed to assess the contamination levels in total, pre/post use of UVC-D, and between different sanitation levels, respectively. Results In total we had a mean of 3.39 CFU/PD (C.I. 2.05 - 4.74) and a median of 1 CFU/PD (Min. 0 - Max. 39), after UVC-D use we had a mean of 2.20 CFU/PD (C.I. 0.69 - 5.09) and a median of 0 CFU/PD (Min. 0 - Max. 133). The UVC-D led to a significant reduction of CFU (p &lt; 0.001). Without UVC-D we had a significant CFU drop (p &lt; 0.05) between SL1 and SL3. Using UVC-D, we observed significant reductions of contamination (p &lt; 0.05) between SL3 and SL1. Comparing SL1 (median 0) post UVC-D use vs SL2 pre UVC-D use (median 0.5), and SL2 post UVC-D use (median 0) vs SL3 pre UVC-D use (median 1) we had a significant reduction of contamination (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions UVC-D improved environmental contamination in any of the three sanitation levels. Furthermore, the use of UVC-D alone was better than in-between and terminal cleaning. Although these encouraging results, the cleaning procedures executed by dedicated staff has to be considered. Key messages UVC are efficient to decrease contamination in operating theatres regardless of sanitation levels. The additional use of UVC technology to standard cleaning procedures significantly improves sanitation levels.


Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2380
Author(s):  
Eduardo Sánchez-Sánchez ◽  
Jara Díaz-Jimenez ◽  
Ignacio Rosety ◽  
Maria José M. Alférez ◽  
Antonio Jesús Díaz ◽  
...  

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the mental health of people worldwide. An increase in perceived stress can lead to unhealthy behaviors such as increased food consumption. The aim of this study was to find the level of perceived stress and its relationship with increased food consumption during the “third wave” of the COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. This was a cross-sectional study that employed anonline self-reported frequency of consumption questionnaire and the Perceived Stress Scale-10. A total of 637 subjects participated and 83.6% of respondents had moderate or high stress—more prevalent in the female and young respondents. Moreover, 36.1% of respondents reported that they had increased the frequency of consumption of some foods, mainly nuts, snacks, and jellybeans, along with coffee, tea, cocoa, and soft drinks. Eating between meals was more pronounced in those with high stress (65.1%) than in those with moderate stress (40.4%) and low stress (20.2%). Furthermore, the respondents with high stress reported greater weight gain. Thus, the results show that the level of perceived stress during the ‘third wave’ of this pandemic increased food consumption.


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