Dataset Information

COVID-19 Clusters in Belgian Nursing Homes: Impact of Facility Characteristics and Vaccination on Cluster Occurrence, Duration and Severity.

ABSTRACT: COVID-19 severely affected nursing home residents from March 2020 onwards in Belgium. This study aimed to model the impact of vaccination and facility characteristics on cluster occurrence, duration and severity in this setting. Possible clusters were identified between June 2020 and January 2022, based on the Belgian COVID-19 surveillance in nursing homes. Median attack rates (AR) among residents and staff, case hospitalization rates (CHR) and case fatality rates (CFR) were calculated. A negative binomial model was used to identify the association between nursing home characteristics and the number of cases, hospital admissions and deaths and the duration of the cluster. A total of 2239 clusters were detected in more than 80% of nursing homes. Most of these (62%) occurred before the start of COVID-19 vaccination (end of December 2020). After vaccination, the number of clusters, the AR among residents and staff, the CHR and the CFR dropped. Previous cluster(s) and vaccination decreased the number of cases, hospital admissions and deaths among residents. Previous cluster experience and having started vaccination were protective factors. We recommend continued implementation of targeted interventions such as vaccination, large-scale screening and immediate implementation of additional infection prevention and control measures.

SUBMITTER: Dequeker S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9867491 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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COVID-19 Clusters in Belgian Nursing Homes: Impact of Facility Characteristics and Vaccination on Cluster Occurrence, Duration and Severity.

Dequeker Sara S Callies Milena M Catteau Lucy L Int Panis Laura L Islamaj Esma E Klamer Sofieke S Latour Katrien K Pauwels Marijke M Vernemmen Catharina C Mahieu Romain R Masson Hanna H Savsin Muhammet M De Clercq Etienne E Thomas Mireille M Catry Boudewijn B Vandael Eline E

Viruses 20230113 1

COVID-19 severely affected nursing home residents from March 2020 onwards in Belgium. This study aimed to model the impact of vaccination and facility characteristics on cluster occurrence, duration and severity in this setting. Possible clusters were identified between June 2020 and January 2022, based on the Belgian COVID-19 surveillance in nursing homes. Median attack rates (AR) among residents and staff, case hospitalization rates (CHR) and case fatality rates (CFR) were calculated. A negati ...[more]

PMID: 36680272

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Project description:BackgroundNursing home residents (NHR) have complex health needs due to their multimorbidity and frailty, challenging interorganisational collaboration, particularly between nursing homes (NH) and hospitals. Coronavirus disease pandemic highlighted the need to strengthen the expertise of NHs care teams. Geriatric mobile teams (GMT) exist in several countries and aim to provide interdisciplinary advice to reinforce the primary care expertise. To develop GMTs in Belgium, we chose a participatory and systemic approach. The aim focuses on identifying areas of partnership between hospitals and NHs based on the geriatric needs of residents, from the perspective of the stakeholders involved in their care. Additionally, it examines the essential requirements for fostering collaboration among these stakeholders.MethodQualitative study using semi-structured interviews of 20 healthcare professionals working in a Belgian academic hospital or within its affiliated NH network. Themes were extracted using thematic analysis, employing simultaneously an inductive approach for the partnership areas and a deductive approach constructed around Karam's framework of interorganizational and interprofessional collaboration.ResultsParticipants highlighted the increasing complexity of NHRs' healthcare needs and the crucial role of geriatric expertise in managing behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, assessing complex medical situations, and advance care planning. While all supported enhanced collaboration, key challenges included formalizing processes and facilitating care integration between providers. Balancing high-level care with the risk of over-medicalization also remains a critical issue. These findings are reflected in three main themes: empowering nursing homes with geriatric expertise; The high importance of integration and formalisation; and balancing tension between a place of residence and high skilled care.ConclusionThis study provides a comprehensive overview of expected collaboration areas and practical strategies to manage constraints. By using a qualitative approach, we integrated the perspectives of all key stakeholders, ensuring that proposed initiatives align with actual needs. Strengthening collaboration between NHs and geriatric services requires formalized frameworks and co-designed protocols with frontline caregivers. Such an initiative has the potential to dismantle compartmentalized care pathways for NHRs.

Project description:IntroductionDespite several calls to deprescribe benzodiazepine receptor agonists (BZRA) in older adults, their use among nursing home residents (NHRs) remains high. Therefore, we developed an intervention targeting general practitioners' and healthcare professionals' behaviours regarding BZRA deprescribing in nursing homes (NHs): The END-IT NH (bENzodiazepines Deprescribing InTerventions Nursing homes) 6-component intervention. Before moving on to a large-scale effectiveness and cost-effectiveness evaluation, this feasibility study aims at: (1) assessing the feasibility of the intervention implementation in NHs, (2) assessing the feasibility of conducting a larger-scale evaluation, in terms of recruitment and data collection and (3) conducting an exploratory cost-effectiveness evaluation.Methods and analysisWe will conduct a cluster-randomised controlled trial in a sample of 6 NHs, with 10-15 NHRs included per NHs. Four NHs will be randomised into the intervention group, and two NHs will deliver usual care (control group). Data collection will occur at baseline, 3, and 6 months (study end). We will collect information to explore implementation fidelity, mechanisms of impact and contextual factors at patient-level, NH-level and healthcare professional-level, using both quantitative and qualitative measures. The feasibility of the study conduction will be assessed by measuring recruitment and attrition rates and completeness of data collection. An exploratory cost-effectiveness evaluation will be conducted based on quality of life and healthcare use and cost data.Ethics and disseminationThis study protocol received approval from the ethical committee of CHU UCL Namur on the 20 June 2023. All data are confidential and will be anonymised prior to analysis. De-identified data will be shared on a data depository with a 2-year embargo. The results of the study will be disseminated through a scientific paper and will be communicated to local stakeholders and policymakers through a local symposium.Trial registration numberNCT05929443.

Project description:Undetected infection with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) contributes to transmission in nursing homes, settings where large outbreaks with high resident mortality have occurred (1,2). Facility-wide testing of residents and health care personnel (HCP) can identify asymptomatic and presymptomatic infections and facilitate infection prevention and control interventions (3-5). Seven state or local health departments conducted initial facility-wide testing of residents and staff members in 288 nursing homes during March 24-June 14, 2020. Two of the seven health departments conducted testing in 195 nursing homes as part of facility-wide testing all nursing homes in their state, which were in low-incidence areas (i.e., the median preceding 14-day cumulative incidence in the surrounding county for each jurisdiction was 19 and 38 cases per 100,000 persons); 125 of the 195 nursing homes had not reported any COVID-19 cases before the testing. Ninety-five of 22,977 (0.4%) persons tested in 29 (23%) of these 125 facilities had positive SARS-CoV-2 test results. The other five health departments targeted facility-wide testing to 93 nursing homes, where 13,443 persons were tested, and 1,619 (12%) had positive SARS-CoV-2 test results. In regression analyses among 88 of these nursing homes with a documented case before facility-wide testing occurred, each additional day between identification of the first case and completion of facility-wide testing was associated with identification of 1.3 additional cases. Among 62 facilities that could differentiate results by resident and HCP status, an estimated 1.3 HCP cases were identified for every three resident cases. Performing facility-wide testing immediately after identification of a case commonly identifies additional unrecognized cases and, therefore, might maximize the benefits of infection prevention and control interventions. In contrast, facility-wide testing in low-incidence areas without a case has a lower proportion of test positivity; strategies are needed to further optimize testing in these settings.

Project description:BackgroundBelgium monitors the burden of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and antimicrobial use in nursing homes (NHs) by participating in the European point prevalence surveys (PPSs) organised in long-term care facilities (HALT surveys). We present the main findings of the three national PPSs conducted in NHs participating in at least one of these surveys, and in a cohort that participated in all three consecutive surveys.MethodsAll NHs were invited to voluntarily participate and conduct the survey on one single day in May-September 2010 (HALT-1), in April-May 2013 (HALT-2) or in September-November 2016 (HALT-3). Data were collected at institutional, ward and resident level. A detailed questionnaire had to be completed for all eligible (i.e. living full time in the facility since at least 24 h, present at 8:00 am and willing to participate) residents receiving at least one systemic antimicrobial agent and/or presenting at least one active HAI on the PPS day. The onset of signs/symptoms had to occur more than 48 h after the resident was (re-)admitted to the NH.ResultsA total of 107, 87 and 158 NHs conducted the HALT-1, HALT-2 and HALT-3 survey, respectively. The median prevalence of residents with antimicrobial agent(s) increased from 4.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.5-4.8%) in HALT-1 to 4.7% (95% CI: 3.5-6.5%) in HALT-2 and 5.0% (95% CI: 4.2-5.9%) in HALT-3. The median prevalence of residents with HAI(s) varied from 1.8% (95% CI: 1.4-2.7%) in HALT-1 to 3.2% (95% CI: 2.2-4.2%) in HALT-2 and 2.7% (95% CI: 2.1-3.4%) in HALT-3. Our post-hoc analysis on the cohort (n = 25 NHs) found similar trends. In all three surveys, respiratory tract infections were most frequently reported, followed by skin/wound infections in HALT-1 and urinary tract infections in HALT-2 and HALT-3. Antimicrobials were most commonly prescribed for the therapeutic treatment of an infection: 66.4% in HALT-1, 60.9% in HALT-2 and 64.1% in HALT-3. Uroprophylaxis accounted for 28.7%, 35.6% and 28.4% of all prescriptions, respectively.ConclusionsNone withstanding the limitations peculiar to the study design, the PPSs enabled us to assess the occurrence of and to increase awareness for HAIs and rational antimicrobial use in NHs at both local and national level.

Project description:BackgroundIn Belgium, the first COVID-19 death was reported on 10 March 2020. Nursing home (NH) residents are particularly vulnerable for COVID-19, making it essential to follow-up the spread of COVID-19 in this setting. This manuscript describes the methodology of surveillance and epidemiology of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths in Belgian NHs.MethodsA COVID-19 surveillance in all Belgian NHs (n = 1542) was set up by the regional health authorities and Sciensano. Aggregated data on possible/confirmed COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations and case-based data on deaths were reported by NHs at least once a week. The study period covered April-December 2020. Weekly incidence/prevalence data were calculated per 1000 residents or staff members.ResultsThis surveillance has been launched within 14 days after the first COVID-19 death in Belgium. Automatic data cleaning was installed using different validation rules. More than 99% of NHs participated at least once, with a median weekly participation rate of 95%. The cumulative incidence of possible/confirmed COVID-19 cases among residents was 206/1000 in the first wave and 367/1000 in the second wave. Most NHs (82%) reported cases in both waves and 74% registered ≥10 possible/confirmed cases among residents at one point in time. In 51% of NHs, at least 10% of staff was absent due to COVID-19 at one point. Between 11 March 2020 and 3 January 2021, 11,329 COVID-19 deaths among NH residents were reported, comprising 57% of all COVID-19 deaths in Belgium in that period.ConclusionsThis surveillance was crucial in mapping COVID-19 in this vulnerable setting and guiding public health interventions, despite limitations of aggregated data and necessary changes in protocol over time. Belgian NHs were severely hit by COVID-19 with many fatal cases. The measure of not allowing visitors, implemented in the beginning of the pandemic, could not avoid the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the NHs during the first wave. The virus was probably often introduced by staff. Once the virus was introduced, it was difficult to prevent healthcare-associated outbreaks. Although, in contrast to the first wave, personal protective equipment was available in the second wave, again a high number of cases were reported.

Project description:BackgroundDementia-care mapping (DCM) is a cyclic intervention aiming at reducing neuropsychiatric symptoms in people with dementia in nursing homes. Alongside an 18-month cluster-randomized controlled trial in which we studied the effectiveness of DCM on residents and staff outcomes, we investigated differences in costs of care between DCM and usual care in nursing homes.MethodsDementia special care units were randomly assigned to DCM or usual care. Nurses from the intervention care homes received DCM training, a DCM organizational briefing day and conducted the 4-months DCM-intervention twice during the study. A single DCM cycle consists of observation, feedback to the staff, and action plans for the residents. We measured costs related to health care consumption, falls and psychotropic drug use at the resident level and absenteeism at the staff level. Data were extracted from resident files and the nursing home records. Prizes were determined using the Dutch manual of health care cost and the cost prices delivered by a pharmacy and a nursing home. Total costs were evaluated by means of linear mixed-effect models for longitudinal data, with the unit as a random effect to correct for dependencies within units.Results34 units from 11 nursing homes, including 318 residents and 376 nursing staff members participated in the cost analyses. Analyses showed no difference in total costs. However certain changes within costs could be noticed. The intervention group showed lower costs associated with outpatient hospital appointments over time (p = 0.05) than the control group. In both groups, the number of falls, costs associated with the elderly-care physician and nurse practitioner increased equally during the study (p<0.02).ConclusionsDCM is a cost-neutral intervention. It effectively reduces outpatient hospital appointments compared to usual care. Other considerations than costs, such as nursing homes' preferences, may determine whether they adopt the DCM method.Trial registrationDutch Trials Registry NTR2314.

Dataset Information

COVID-19 Clusters in Belgian Nursing Homes: Impact of Facility Characteristics and Vaccination on Cluster Occurrence, Duration and Severity.

Publications

COVID-19 Clusters in Belgian Nursing Homes: Impact of Facility Characteristics and Vaccination on Cluster Occurrence, Duration and Severity.

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