Project description:BackgroundDuring the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, a substantial number of Quebec hospitals were hit by hospital-acquired (HA) SARS-CoV-2 infections. Our objective was to assess whether mortality is higher in HA cases than in non-hospital-acquired (NHA) cases and determine the prevalence of HA-SARS-CoV-2 infection in our hospital.MethodsThis retrospective single-centre cohort study included all adults (≥ 18 yr) who had COVID-19, admitted to Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont (Montréal, Canada) from Mar. 1 to June 30, 2020. We collected data on demographic characteristics, comorbidities, treatment, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) and mechanical ventilation requirements from electronic health records. We adjudicated hospital acquisition based on the timing of symptom onset, and polymerase chain reaction testing for and exposures to SARS-CoV-2. To evaluate the association between HA-SARS-CoV-2 infection and in-hospital mortality, we computed a multivariable logistic regression analysis including known risk factors for death in patients with COVID-19 as covariates.ResultsAmong 697 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection, 253 (36.3%) were classified as HA. The mortality rate was higher in the HA group than in the NHA group (38.2% v. 26.4%, p = 0.001), while the rates of ICU admission (8.3% v. 19.1%, p = 0.001) and requirement for mechanical ventilation (3.6% v. 13.0%, p = 0.001) were lower. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that HA-SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients younger than 75 years is an independent risk factor for death (odds ratio 2.78, 95% confidence interval 1.44-5.38).InterpretationOur results show that HA-SARS-CoV-2 infection in younger patients was associated with higher mortality. Future studies need to evaluate relevant patient-centred long-term outcomes in this population.
Project description:ObjectiveTo evaluate risk factors for hospital-acquired infection (HAI) in patients during the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic, including historical and concurrent cohorts.DesignRetrospective cohort.SettingThree Missouri hospitals, data from 1st January 2017 to 30th September 2020.ParticipantsPatients aged ≥18 years and admitted for ≥48 h.MethodsUnivariate and multi-variate Cox proportional hazards models incorporating the competing risk of death were used to determine risk factors for HAI. A-priori sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the urine-, blood- and respiratory-culture-based HAI definition.ResultsThe cohort included 254,792 admissions, with 7147 (2.8%) HAIs (1661 blood, 3407 urine, 2626 respiratory). Patients with SARS-CoV-2 had increased risk of HAI (adjusted hazards ratio 1.65, 95% confidence interval 1.38-1.96), and SARS-CoV-2 infection was one of the strongest risk factors for development of HAI. Other risk factors for HAI included certain admitting services, chronic comorbidities, intensive care unit stay during index admission, extremes of body mass index, hospital, and selected medications. Factors associated with lower risk of HAI included year of admission (declined over the course of the study), admitting service and medications. Risk factors for HAI were similar in sensitivity analyses restricted to patients with diagnostic codes for pneumonia/upper respiratory infection and urinary tract infection.ConclusionsSARS-CoV-2 was associated with significantly increased risk of HAI.
Project description:Proteomic Ig-SEQ identification of SARS-COV-2 specific antibodies from serum of two convalescent patients during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Total IgG was isolated from serum, digested with IdeS protease to generate F(ab)2 fragments, and subjected to antigen affinity chromatography using agarose beads coupled with SARS-COV-2 spike protein. Purified F(ab)2 fragments were reduced, alkylated, and digested with trypsin prior to LC-MSMS analysis on an Orbitrap Fusion Lumos mass spectrometer. Resulting peptide IDs were used to identify IgG clonotypes in antigen-specific and flow-through fractions.
Project description:To evaluate the gene expression profiling of peripheral leukocytes in different outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infections, whole blood samples were collected from individuals with positive SARS-CoV-2 nasopharyngeal swab by RT-PCR (54 patients) and healthy uninfected individuals (12 volunteers). Infected patients were classified into mild, moderate, severe and critical groups according to a modified statement in the Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia Diagnosis and Treatment Guideline. Blood were collected into EDTA tubes and the buffy coat samples were stored in TRIzol reagent at -80 °C until use for RNA extraction. Affymetrix Clariom S array was used to perform the high-throughput gene expression profiling. Microarray analyses were performed using APT Affymetrix software, R packages and Bioconductor libraries. This systemic view of SARS-CoV-2 infections through blood transcriptomics will foster the understanding about molecular mechanisms and immunopathological processes involved in COVID-19 disease and its different outcomes.
Project description:ObjectivesStrasbourg University Hospital faced an important COVID-19 first wave from early March 2020. We performed a longitudinal prospective cohort study to describe clinical and virological data, exposure history to COVID-19, and adherence to strict hygiene standards during the first pandemic wave in 1497 workers undergoing a SARS-CoV-2 serological test at our hospital, with a follow up of serology result three months later.Patients and methodsA total of 1497 patients were enrolled from April 6 to May 7, 2020. Antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 was measured, and COVID-19 exposure routes were analyzed according to SARS-CoV-2 serological status.ResultsA total of 515 patients (34.4%) were seropositive, mainly medical students (13.2%) and assistant nurses (12.0%). A history of COVID-19 exposure in a professional and/or private setting was mentioned by 83.1% of seropositive subjects (P<0.05; odds ratio [OR]: 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.8-3.4). COVID-19 exposure factors associated with seropositive status were non-professional exposure (OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.3-2.7), especially outside the immediate family circle (OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.2-3.9) and contact with a COVID-19 patient (OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.1-2.2). Among professionally exposed workers, systematic adherence to strict hygiene standards was well observed, except for the use of a surgical mask (P<0.05, OR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.3-2.8). Of those who reported occasionally or never wearing a surgical mask, nurses (25.7%), assistant nurses (16.2%), and medical students (11.7%) were predominant.ConclusionInfection of staff members during the first pandemic wave in our hospital occurred after both professional and private COVID-19 exposure, underlining the importance of continuous training in strict hygiene standards.
Project description:BackgroundHealth care workers (HCW), particularly immigrants and ethnic minorities are at increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Outcomes during a COVID-19 associated hospitalization are not well described among HCW. We aimed to describe the characteristics of HCW admitted with COVID-19 including immigrant status and ethnicity and the associated risk factors for Intensive Care unit (ICU) admission and death.MethodsAdults with laboratory-confirmed community-acquired COVID-19 hospitalized from March 1 to June 30, 2020, at four tertiary-care hospitals in Montréal, Canada were included. Demographics, comorbidities, occupation, immigration status, country of birth, ethnicity, workplace exposures, and hospital outcomes (ICU admission and death) were obtained through a chart review and phone survey. A Fine and Gray competing risk proportional hazards model was used to estimate the risk of ICU admission among HCW stratified by immigrant status and region of birth.ResultsAmong 1104 included persons, 150 (14%) were HCW, with a phone survey participation rate of 68%. HCWs were younger (50 vs 64 years; p<0.001), more likely to be female (61% vs 41%; p<0.001), migrants (68% vs 55%; p<0.01), non-White (65% vs 41%; p<0.001) and healthier (mean Charlson Comorbidity Index of 0.3 vs 1.2; p<0.001) compared to non-HCW. They were as likely to be admitted to the ICU (28% vs 31%; p = 0.40) but were less likely to die (4% vs. 17%; p<0.001). Immigrant HCW accounted for 68% of all HCW cases and, compared to Canadian HCW, were more likely to be personal support workers (PSW) (54% vs. 33%, p<0.01), to be Black (58% vs 4%) and to work in a Residential Care Facility (RCF) (59% vs 33%; p = 0.05). Most HCW believed that they were exposed at work, 55% did not always have access to personal protective equipment (PPE) and 40% did not receive COVID-19-specific Infection Control (IPAC) training.ConclusionImmigrant HCW were particularly exposed to COVID-19 infection in the first wave of the pandemic in Quebec. Despite being young and healthy, one third of all HCW required ICU admission, highlighting the importance of preventing workplace transmission through strong infection prevention and control measures, including high COVID-19 vaccination coverage.
Project description:The aim of the study was to investigate the real-life experience of persons infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Slovenia in the first pandemic wave and how the buffering effect of social and informational support affected negative feelings. We used a self-administrated questionnaire. There were 1182 eligible notified cases with the response rate 64.9%. At least 62% of responders were able to follow the isolation rules, while 21.1% did not or could not organize their living separately from other household members. The main providers during the isolation period were close family members. The most prevalent emotion in our study was worry (70.3%) and fear (37.6%). Worry and fear during the illness were less probable for men than women, but more probable for older patients. Participants with strong emotional support had lower odds of being sad. Those who were exposed to a larger number of sources of information had higher odds of being worried. Those patients who used a higher number of more credible sources of information had higher odds of being afraid during illness. Pets did not play a special role in psychological well-being. The role of the media and public health communications should be explored further to achieve an improved response.
Project description:ObjectivesPeople experiencing homelessness are at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study reports the point prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection during testing conducted at sites serving people experiencing homelessness in Toronto during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also explored the association between site characteristics and prevalence rates.MethodsThe study included individuals who were staying at shelters, encampments, COVID-19 physical distancing sites, and drop-in and respite sites and completed outreach-based testing for SARS-CoV-2 during the period April 17 to July 31, 2020. We examined test positivity rates over time and compared them to rates in the general population of Toronto. Negative binomial regression was used to examine the relationship between each shelter-level characteristic and SARS-CoV-2 positivity rates. We also compared the rates across 3 time periods (T1: April 17-April 25; T2: April 26-May 23; T3: May 24-June 25).ResultsThe overall prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection was 8.5% (394/4657). Site-specific rates showed great heterogeneity with infection rates ranging from 0% to 70.6%. Compared to T1, positivity rates were 0.21 times lower (95% CI: 0.06-0.75) during T2 and 0.14 times lower (95% CI: 0.04-0.44) during T3. Most cases were detected during outbreak testing (384/394 [97.5%]) rather than active case finding.ConclusionDuring the first wave of the pandemic, rates of SARS-CoV-2 infection at sites for people experiencing homelessness in Toronto varied significantly over time. The observation of lower rates at certain sites may be attributable to overall time trends, expansion of outreach-based testing to include sites without known outbreaks, and/or individual site characteristics.
Project description:ObjectiveTo estimate the proportion of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus coinfection among severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases-patients during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh.DesignDescriptive study.SettingNine tertiary level hospitals across Bangladesh.ParticipantsPatients admitted as SARI (defined as cases with subjective or measured fever of ≥38 C° and cough with onset within the last 10 days and requiring hospital admission) case-patients.Primary and secondary outcomesProportion of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus coinfection and proportion of mortality among SARI case-patients.ResultsWe enrolled 1986 SARI case-patients with a median age: 28 years (IQR: 1.2-53 years), and 67.6% were male. Among them, 285 (14.3%) were infected with SARS-CoV-2; 175 (8.8%) were infected with the influenza virus, and five (0.3%) were coinfected with both viruses. There was a non-appearance of influenza during the usual peak season (May to July) in Bangladesh. SARS-CoV-2 infection was significantly more associated with diabetes (14.0% vs 5.9%, p<0.001) and hypertension (26.7% vs 11.5%, p<0.001). But influenza among SARI case-patients was significantly less associated with diabetes (4.0% vs 7.4%, p=0.047) and hypertension (5.7% vs 14.4%, p=0.001). The proportion of in-hospital deaths among SARS-CoV-2 infected SARI case-patients were higher (10.9% (n=31) vs 4.4% (n=75), p<0.001) than those without SARS-CoV-2 infection; the proportion of postdischarge deaths within 30 days was also higher (9.1% (n=25) vs 4.6% (n=74), p=0.001) among SARS-CoV-2 infected SARI case-patients than those without infection. No in-hospital mortality or postdischarge mortality was registered among the five coinfected SARI case-patients.ConclusionsOur findings suggest that coinfection with SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus was not very common and had less disease severity considering mortality in Bangladesh. There was no circulating influenza virus during the influenza peak season during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Future studies are warranted for further exploration.
Project description:ObjectiveTo investigate the antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 and identify associated factors in frontline and second-line healthcare workers (HCWs) at a large hospital in Mexico City during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsThis was a cross-sectional study of HCWs returning to work following mandatory isolation after recovering from COVID-19. Immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG antibodies elicited by SARS-CoV-2 were semiquantitatively measured using densitometric analysis of band intensities in lateral flow assay (LFA) devices. The mean pixel intensity (dots-per-inch [dpi]) of each band on the LFA was considered a measure of antibody titre.ResultsOf the 111 HCWs involved in the study, antibody responses were detected in 73/111 (66%) participants. Severe COVID symptoms was associated with old age. No differences in IgM intensity were observed between men and women, but IgG intensity was significantly higher in men than in women. Second-line HCWs produced a higher IgG intensity than firstline HCWs. The IgG intensity was high in severe cases.ConclusionsFor HCWs who may acquire SARS-CoV-2 infection, it is necessary to establish a routine program for detection of the virus to avoid risk of infection and spread of COVID-19.