Transmission and Control of Respiratory Viral Infections in the Healthcare Setting

Infectivity of Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Prospective Cohort Study in the Korean Metropolitan Area

BACKGROUND

Although several characteristics of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), an ongoing pandemic disease, have been identified, data on the infectivity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are limited.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study was conducted to analyze the infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 based on data of all patients diagnosed with COVID-19 confirmed using real-time polymerase chain reaction test from January to April 2020 in Gyeonggi-do, the largest province in Korea.

RESULTS

Of the 502 patients, 298 consisting of 106 clusters with 5,909 contacts were included. Of these, 277 (93.0%) were symptomatic, and the most common symptoms were cough, fever, sputum, sore throat, and headache. A total of 94 patients (31.5%) had pneumonia, while 8 (2.7%) died during the follow-up period. The secondary attack rate (SAR) in the study population was 3.5% (204/5,909). In exposure settings, the SAR was higher in religious gathering (13.5% [95% confidence interval, 10.7-16.8%]), workplaces (8.49% [95% CI, 6.08-11.74%]), and schools (6.38% [95% CI, 3.39-11.69%]) than in health care facilities (1.92% [95% CI, 1.45-2.55%]). Sore throat at any period, dyspnea at diagnosis or any period, lower cycle threshold value in the lower respiratory tract samples, leukocytosis, and higher bilirubin levels were associated with higher infectivity of COVID-19. The presence of symptoms was not related to the infectivity.

CONCLUSION

In establishing the infection control strategies for COVID-19, the variables associated with high infectivity may be considered.

Patterns Among Healthcare Workers of Bangalore About Face Mask Usage: A Single-Center Observational Study

Introduction

Face masks prevent acute respiratory infections. Healthcare workers are prone to infections owing to their direct and constant exposure to infected patients. This pioneering study in Bangalore city, analyzed the awareness and attitude of healthcare staff toward using a face mask.

Methods

This observational study was conducted among 290 subjects (mean age, 33.89 ± 7.88 years; male:female ratio, 1:2.67). The study included all the healthcare workers from various departments. Data on basic demographic characteristics, attitude, awareness, and observations on the use of face mask were collected.

Results

A large proportion of the sample were from the nursing department (n = 161, 55.51%). Most of the healthcare workers believed that making wearing a mask mandatory in public was very effective (80%) and 79% believed that wearing a mask could prevent the spread of coronavirus. Most of the healthcare workers said they would wear masks even when not mandatory. Most of them used an N95 mask or an N95 mask along with a surgical mask. Almost all were conscious of wearing the mask above the nose, covering the mouth and chin (289, 99.65%). A significantly higher number of doctors (medical postgraduates) (17, 45.95%, p = 0.01) used two masks when compared with others. Significantly fewer doctors (4, 10.81%) and other healthcare staff (8, 22.22%) reused masks (p = 0.002). Most of them used the mask only once, and those who reused it, cleaned it on alternate days (< 0.001). Sun-drying or air-drying, preceded by washing with detergent or soap, were the cleaning methods used, and most used paper or plastic bags to store the masks when not in use. Most of them did not use hand sanitizer before wearing the mask but followed all other precautions and measures to prevent infection.

Conclusions

Most of the healthcare workers believed the use of masks could prevent virus transmission. A significantly higher number of doctors used two masks when compared with other healthcare staff. Significantly fewer doctors and other healthcare staff reused masks when compared with nurses and technicians.

Revolutionizing polymer-based nanoparticle-linked vaccines for targeting respiratory viruses: A perspective

Viral respiratory tract infections have significantly impacted global health as well as socio-economic growth. Respiratory viruses such as the influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and the recent SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19) typically infect the upper respiratory tract by entry through the respiratory mucosa before reaching the lower respiratory tract, resulting in respiratory disease. Generally, vaccination is the primary method in preventing virus pathogenicity and it has been shown to remarkably reduce the burden of various infectious diseases. Nevertheless, the efficacy of conventional vaccines may be hindered by certain limitations, prompting the need to develop novel vaccine delivery vehicles to immunize against various strains of respiratory viruses and to mitigate the risk of a pandemic. In this review, we provide an insight into how polymer-based nanoparticles can be integrated with the development of vaccines to effectively enhance immune responses for combating viral respiratory tract infections.