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Hadano Y, Kakuma T. Changing trends in Japanese spotted fever epidemiology in Shimane, Japan: A two-decade retrospective study with emphasis on the COVID-19 pandemic era. J Infect Chemother 2024; 30:1035-1040. [PMID: 38574815 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2024.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The objective of this study is to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of Japanese Spotted Fever (JSF) cases reported through the National Epidemiological Surveillance of Infectious Disease (NESID) system in Shimane Prefecture, Japan, from 2000 to 2022, encompassing the periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic period. METHODS A retrospective analysis was conducted on JSF cases reported to the NESID system in Shimane Prefecture between 2000 and 2022. Population data were obtained from the Statistical Information of Shimane. Poisson regression analysis was employed to examine the relationship between the annual prevalence rate of JSF and the COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS A total of 301 JSF cases were analyzed during the study period. Even the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period, a gradual and significant increase in the prevalence rate was observed (prevalence rate = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.05; p = 0.01), and a rapid increase was noted since 2020 (prevalence rate = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.39-1.78; p < 0.01). The slope during the pre-COVID-19 pandemic period was estimated to have significantly increased (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that while the prevalence rate of JSF had exhibited a slight increase in the years preceding the COVID-19 pandemic, it demonstrated a more significant increase following the pandemic in Shimane Prefecture. JSF has increased since 2020 and may be linked to COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial impact on global health, underscoring the importance of investigating the prevalence of specific infectious diseases and other health-related indicators to accurately assess the pandemic's impact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiro Hadano
- Division of Infection Control and Prevention, Shimane University Hospital, Izumo, Japan.
| | - Tatsuyuki Kakuma
- Biostatistics Center, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan; I'cross Co., Ltd, Japan
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Yang YF, Chen YM, Chen SY, Chiu PH, Chen SC. Burden changes in notifiable infectious diseases in Taiwan during the COVID-19 pandemic. PeerJ 2024; 12:e18048. [PMID: 39267943 PMCID: PMC11391939 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.18048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Background This study aimed to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the disease burden of Taiwan's notifiable infectious diseases (NIDs). We compared disease burdens between the pandemic and pre-pandemic year of 2020 (with non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs)) and 2010 (without NPIs), respectively, to understand the overall pandemic impact on NIDs in Taiwan. Methods Forty-three national NIDs were analyzed using the Statistics of Communicable Diseases and Surveillance Report by estimating the premature death and disability via different transmission categories, sex, and age groups. The study evaluated the impact of diseases by assessing the years lost due to death (YLLs), the duration of living with disability (YLDs), and the overall disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) by measuring both the severity of the illness and its duration. Results Taiwan recorded 1,577 (2010) and 1,260 (2020) DALYs per million population and lost 43 NIDs, decreasing 317 DALYs per million population. Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and acute hepatitis B/D were the leading causes of DALYs, accounting for 89% (2010) and 77% (2020). Conclusion Overall, this study provided the first insight of changes in disease burdens in NIDs between pre- and post-COVID-19 based on a nationwide viewpoint for further preventive measures and interventions to be focused on specific diseases by associated health administrations and policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Fei Yang
- Department of Bioenvironmental Systems Engineering, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Miao Chen
- Department of Public Health, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Si-Yu Chen
- Department of Public Health, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Po-Hao Chiu
- Department of Public Health, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Szu-Chieh Chen
- Department of Public Health, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
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Cai R, Spencer Z, Ruktanonchai N. Exploring infectious disease spread as a function of seasonal and pandemic-induced changes in human mobility. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1410824. [PMID: 39257956 PMCID: PMC11383773 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1410824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Community-level changes in population mobility can dramatically change the trajectory of any directly-transmitted infectious disease, by modifying where and between whom contact occurs. This was highlighted throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, where community response and nonpharmaceutical interventions changed the trajectory of SARS-CoV-2 spread, sometimes in unpredictable ways. Population-level changes in mobility also occur seasonally and during other significant events, such as hurricanes or earthquakes. To effectively predict the spread of future emerging directly-transmitted diseases, we should better understand how the spatial spread of infectious disease changes seasonally, and when communities are actively responding to local disease outbreaks and travel restrictions. Methods Here, we use population mobility data from Virginia spanning Aug 2019-March 2023 to simulate the spread of a hypothetical directly-transmitted disease under the population mobility patterns from various months. By comparing the spread of disease based on where the outbreak begins and the mobility patterns used, we determine the highest-risk areas and periods, and elucidate how seasonal and pandemic-era mobility patterns could change the trajectory of disease transmission. Results and discussion Through this analysis, we determine that while urban areas were at highest risk pre-pandemic, the heterogeneous nature of community response induced by SARS-CoV-2 cases meant that when outbreaks were occurring across Virginia, rural areas became relatively higher risk. Further, the months of September and January led to counties with large student populations to become particularly at risk, as population flows in and out of these counties were greatly increased with students returning to school.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqing Cai
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Zach Spencer
- University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Nick Ruktanonchai
- Population Health Sciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, United States
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Li Y, Wu M, Liang Y, Yang Y, Guo W, Deng Y, Wen T, Tan C, Lin C, Liu F, Lin Y, Chen Q. Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection outbreak in Guangzhou, China after COVID-19 pandemic. Virol J 2024; 21:183. [PMID: 39129001 PMCID: PMC11318190 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-024-02458-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is a common pathogen causing respiratory diseases in children. This study aimed to characterize epidemiological and disease severity shifts of M. pneumoniae: infections in Guangzhou, China during and after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. METHODS Throat swab samples were obtained from 5405 hospitalized patients with symptoms of acute respiratory infections to detect M. pneumoniae. Differences in epidemiological and clinical characteristics of M. pneumoniae: infections were investigated during 2020-2022 and after COVID-19 pandemic (2023). RESULTS M. pneumoniae were detected in 849 (15.6%, 849/5405) patients. The highest annual positive rate was 29.4% (754/2570) in 2023, followed by 5.3% (72/1367) in 2022, 1.2% (12/1015) in 2021, and 2.0% (11/553) in 2020, with significantly increasing annual prevalence from 2020 to 2023. M. pneumoniae incidence peaked between July and December post-COVID-19 pandemic in 2023, with the highest monthly positive rate (56.4%, 165/293). Clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with M. pneumoniae did not vary between periods during and after COVID-19 pandemic except that patients with M. pneumoniae post-COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to develop fever. Patients with severe M. pneumoniae pneumonia (SMPP) were more likely to develop respiratory complications, myocardial damage, and gastrointestinal dysfunction than those with non-SMPP. Patients with SMPP had lower lymphocytes, CD3+ T cells, CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells, and higher IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 levels than those with non-SMPP. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid specimens from infected patients were obtained to identify macrolide resistance mutations. Macrolide-resistant M. pneumoniae (MRMP) proportion in 2023 was 91.1% (215/236). CONCLUSION Outbreaks of M. pneumoniae: occurred in Guangzhou, China in 2023 upon Non-pharmaceutical interventions easing. Despite the increasing incidence of M. pneumoniae, the disease severity remained similar during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Key Laboratory of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies Center, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Minzhi Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Key Laboratory of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies Center, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Ying Liang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Key Laboratory of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies Center, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Yihao Yang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Key Laboratory of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies Center, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenyu Guo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Key Laboratory of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies Center, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuezhi Deng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Key Laboratory of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies Center, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Tao Wen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Key Laboratory of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies Center, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Caiwei Tan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Key Laboratory of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies Center, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Cheng Lin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Key Laboratory of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies Center, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China
| | - Feifei Liu
- Guangzhou Kingmed Center for Clinical Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yongping Lin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital & Shenzhen Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Qigao Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Key Laboratory of Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies Center, National Center for Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou, 510120, Guangdong, China.
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Ilmavirta H, Ollgren J, Räisänen K, Kinnunen T, Hakanen AJ, Rantakokko-Jalava K, Jalava J, Lyytikäinen O. Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Escherichia coli in urinary tract and blood stream infections: results from a nationwide surveillance network, Finland, 2018 to 2022. Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 2024; 13:72. [PMID: 38971782 PMCID: PMC11227720 DOI: 10.1186/s13756-024-01427-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Before the COVID-19 pandemic there has been a constant increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of Escherichia coli, the most common cause of urinary tract infections and bloodstream infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) production in urine and blood E. coli isolates in Finland to improve our understanding on the source attribution of this major multidrug-resistant pathogen. METHODS Susceptibility test results of 564,233 urine (88.3% from females) and 23,860 blood E. coli isolates (58.8% from females) were obtained from the nationwide surveillance database of Finnish clinical microbiology laboratories. Susceptibility testing was performed according to EUCAST guidelines. We compared ESBL-producing E. coli proportions and incidence before (2018-2019), during (2020-2021), and after (2022) the pandemic and stratified these by age groups and sex. RESULTS The annual number of urine E. coli isolates tested for antimicrobial susceptibility decreased 23.3% during 2018-2022 whereas the number of blood E. coli isolates increased 1.1%. The annual proportion of ESBL-producing E. coli in urine E. coli isolates decreased 28.7% among males, from 6.9% (average during 2018-2019) to 4.9% in 2022, and 28.7% among females, from 3.0 to 2.1%. In blood E. coli isolates, the proportion decreased 32.9% among males, from 9.3 to 6.2%, and 26.6% among females, from 6.2 to 4.6%. A significant decreasing trend was also observed in most age groups, but risk remained highest among persons aged ≥ 60 years. CONCLUSIONS The reduction in the proportions of ESBL-producing E. coli was comprehensive, covering both specimen types, both sexes, and all age groups, showing that the continuously increasing trends could be reversed. Decrease in international travel and antimicrobial use were likely behind this reduction, suggesting that informing travellers about the risk of multidrug-resistant bacteria, hygiene measures, and appropriate antimicrobial use is crucial in prevention. Evaluation of infection control measures in healthcare settings could be beneficial, especially in long-term care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heikki Ilmavirta
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland.
- ISLAB Laboratory Centre, Kuopio, Finland.
- Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Jukka Ollgren
- Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kati Räisänen
- Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Tuure Kinnunen
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- ISLAB Laboratory Centre, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Antti Juhani Hakanen
- Tyks Laboratories, Turku University Hospital (TYKS) and University of Turku (UTU), Turku, Finland
| | - Kaisu Rantakokko-Jalava
- Tyks Laboratories, Turku University Hospital (TYKS) and University of Turku (UTU), Turku, Finland
| | - Jari Jalava
- Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland
| | - Outi Lyytikäinen
- Department of Health Security, Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), Helsinki, Finland
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Shrestha S, Malla B, Haramoto E. Group A Streptococcus pyogenes in wastewater: Applicability of wastewater-based epidemiology for monitoring the prevalence of GAS pharyngitis during the late COVID-19 pandemic phase. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 928:172447. [PMID: 38621526 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Streptococcus pyogenes, Group A Streptococcus (GAS), is a human pathogen that causes a spectrum of diseases from mild to severe, including GAS pharyngitis, a common acute respiratory disease in developed countries. Although wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has been extensively used to monitor viral pathogens such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, its applicability to S. pyogenes remains unexplored. This study was conducted to investigate the feasibility of detecting and quantifying S. pyogenes in wastewater by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and evaluate the applicability of WBE for monitoring the prevalence of GAS pharyngitis. A total of 52 grab influent samples were collected from a wastewater treatment plant in Japan once a week between March 2023 and February 2024. The samples were centrifuged, followed by nucleic acid extraction and qPCR for the S. pyogenes-specific genes speB and spy1258. Of the 52 samples, 90 % and 81 % were positive for speB and spy1258 genes, respectively, indicating the feasibility of S. pyogenes for wastewater surveillance. However, the percentage of quantifiable samples for speB gene was significantly higher in winter than in spring and summer. Similarly, the concentrations of both genes in wastewater samples were significantly higher in winter (speB, 4.1 ± 0.27 log10 copies/L; spy1258, 4.1 ± 0.28 log10 copies/L; One-way ANOVA, p < 0.01) than in spring and summer. Higher concentrations and detection ratios of S. pyogenes genes were observed during increased GAS pharyngitis cases in the catchment. Significant moderate correlations were observed between target gene concentrations and reported GAS pharyngitis cases. This study enhances the understanding role of WBE in monitoring and managing infectious diseases within communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadhana Shrestha
- Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8511, Japan
| | - Bikash Malla
- Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8511, Japan
| | - Eiji Haramoto
- Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, 4-3-11 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi 400-8511, Japan.
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Nicolaidou E, Fouseki K, Paparizos V, Kotsafti O, Vasalou V, Daskalakis E, Lakoumentas J, Giannoukos A, Emmanouil G, Kapranou R, Kripouri Z, Papanikou S, Stefanaki I, Tagka A, Gregoriou S, Paparizou E, Stratigos A. A sharp increase in early syphilis cases in a referral hospital in Athens, Greece, 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2024; 38:e450-e452. [PMID: 38380596 DOI: 10.1111/jdv.19884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- E Nicolaidou
- 1st Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "A. Sygros" Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - K Fouseki
- 1st Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "A. Sygros" Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - V Paparizos
- 1st Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "A. Sygros" Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - O Kotsafti
- 1st Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "A. Sygros" Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - V Vasalou
- 1st Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "A. Sygros" Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - E Daskalakis
- 1st Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "A. Sygros" Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | | | - A Giannoukos
- 1st Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "A. Sygros" Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - G Emmanouil
- 1st Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "A. Sygros" Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - R Kapranou
- 1st Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "A. Sygros" Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - Z Kripouri
- 1st Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "A. Sygros" Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - S Papanikou
- Department of Dermatology, National Health System, "A. Sygros" Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - I Stefanaki
- 1st Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "A. Sygros" Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - A Tagka
- 1st Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "A. Sygros" Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - S Gregoriou
- 1st Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "A. Sygros" Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - E Paparizou
- 1st Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "A. Sygros" Hospital, Athens, Greece
| | - A Stratigos
- 1st Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, "A. Sygros" Hospital, Athens, Greece
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Wang Y, Cui M, Li L, Gao C, Feng Z, Cai Y, Yang Z, Shen L. Unexpected decrease in necrotizing enterocolitis morbidity during the COVID-19 pandemic-A single-centre retrospective study. Front Pediatr 2024; 12:1346478. [PMID: 38863524 PMCID: PMC11165084 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2024.1346478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Background The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is not well characterised. This cross-sectional study evaluated the potential effects of pandemic-related measures on NEC morbidity in premature infants in a neonatal ward during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods This was a retrospective study conducted in a tertiary neonatal ward in eastern and central China over 6 consecutive years (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022). The medical records of 189 premature infants with stage II or III NEC were reviewed for clinical manifestations and aetiologies. The data were analysed and compared between the prepandemic period (2017, 2018, and 2019) and the pandemic period (2020, 2021 and 2022). Results A total of 9,903 infants with gestational age (GA) < 37 weeks were enrolled, including 5,382 in the prepandemic period and 4,521 in the pandemic period. A reduction in stage II or III NEC morbidity was observed in infants with GA < 37 weeks, with an average annual morbidity of 2.29% (123/5,382) (95% CI, 1.89%-2.68%) in the prepandemic period and 1.46% (66/4,521) (95% CI, 1.11%-1.81%) in the pandemic period. NEC morbidity showed resurgent characteristics in 2021. When prepandemic coinfections were excluded, most cases of NEC with bloodstream infections in the prepandemic period were attributable to Gram-negative bacteria (27/32, 84.38%), mainly Klebsiella pneumoniae, while in the pandemic period they were attributable to Gram-positive bacteria (10/18, 55.56%), mainly Staphylococcus aureus. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that Klebsiella pneumoniae was 100% sensitive to meropenem, imipenem, ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin and 100% resistant to ampicillin. Staphylococcus capitis was 100% sensitive to vancomycin, linezolid, tetracycline, cotrimoxazole and cefoxitin and 100% resistant to penicillin and benzathine. Conclusions COVID-19 pandemic-related interventions can reduce the morbidity of NEC and change the pathogen spectrum in patients with bloodstream infections. We need to understand the exact factors leading to these changes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lirong Shen
- Department of Neonatology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
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Akaishi T, Tarasawa K, Fushimi K, Ota C, Sekiguchi S, Aoyagi T, Yaegashi N, Aoki M, Fujimori K. A Reduction in the Number of Hospitalized Cases of Acute Meningitis during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan. Intern Med 2024; 63:1353-1359. [PMID: 38432966 PMCID: PMC11157317 DOI: 10.2169/internalmedicine.3022-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective The changes in the prevalence of acute meningitis during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic remain unclear. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of acute meningitis before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. Methods We retrospectively reviewed the Japanese nationwide administrative medical payment system database, Diagnosis Procedure Combination (DPC), from 2016 to 2022. A total of 547 hospitals consistently and seamlessly offered DPC data during this period. The study period was divided into the following three periods: April 2016 to March 2018 (fiscal years 2016-2017), April 2018-March 2020 (2018-2019), and April 2020-March 2022 (2020-2021). Results Among the 28,161,806 patients hospitalized during the study period, 28,399 were hospitalized for acute meningitis: 16,678 for viral/aseptic type, 6,189 for bacterial type, 655 for fungal type, 429 for tuberculous, 2,310 for carcinomatous type, and 2,138 for other or unknown types of meningitis. A significant decrease during the pandemic was confirmed in viral (n=7,032, n=5,775, and n=3,871 in each period; p<0.0001) and bacterial meningitis (n=2,291, n=2,239, and n=1,659; p<0.0001) cases. Meanwhile, no decrease was observed in fungal meningitis (n=212, n=246, and n=197; p=0.056) or carcinomatous meningitis (n=781, n=795, and n=734; p=0.27). The decrease in the number of tuberculous meningitis cases was equivocal (n=166, n=146, and n=117; p=0.014). The decrease during the pandemic was more remarkable in younger populations aged <50 years than in older populations, both for viral and bacterial meningitis. Conclusion The number of hospitalized cases of acute meningitis clearly decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for viral and bacterial meningitis in younger populations aged <50 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuya Akaishi
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
- Department of Education and Support for Regional Medicine, Tohoku University Hospital, Japan
| | - Kunio Tarasawa
- Department of Health Administration and Policy, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Kiyohide Fushimi
- Department of Health Policy and Informatics, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Japan
| | - Chiharu Ota
- Department of Pediatrics, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
- Development and Environmental Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
- Environment and Genome Research Center, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
| | | | - Tetsuji Aoyagi
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Nobuo Yaegashi
- Development and Environmental Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
- Environment and Genome Research Center, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
- Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization, Tohoku University, Japan
| | - Masashi Aoki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
| | - Kenji Fujimori
- Department of Health Administration and Policy, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Japan
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10
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Fukuyama K, Mori Y, Ueshima H, Ito S, Tanabe M, Kuroda T. Medical resource usage for COVID-19 evaluated using the National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303493. [PMID: 38739628 PMCID: PMC11090316 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic exhibited several different waves threatening global health care. During this pandemic, medical resources were depleted. However, the kind of medical resources provided to each wave was not clarified. This study aimed to examine the characteristics of medical care provision at COVID-19 peaks in preparation for the next pandemic. METHODS Using medical insurance claim records in Japan, we examined the presence or absence of COVID-19 infection and the use of medical resources for all patients monthly by age group. RESULTS The wave around August 2021 with the Delta strain had the strongest impact on the working population in terms of hospital admission and respiratory support. For healthcare providers, this peak had the highest frequency of severely ill patients. In the subsequent wave, although the number of patients with COVID-19 remained high, they were predominantly older adults, with relatively fewer patients receiving intensive care. CONCLUSIONS In future pandemics, we should refer to the wave around August 2021 as a situation of medical resource shortage resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keita Fukuyama
- Division of Medical Information Technology and Administration Planning, Kyoto University Hospital, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto city, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yukiko Mori
- Division of Medical Information Technology and Administration Planning, Kyoto University Hospital, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto city, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Ueshima
- Division of Medical Information Technology and Administration Planning, Kyoto University Hospital, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto city, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shiho Ito
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Mie University Hospital, Edobashi, Tsu city, Mie, Japan
| | - Masaki Tanabe
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Mie University Hospital, Edobashi, Tsu city, Mie, Japan
- Department of Infection Control and Prevention, Mie University Hospital, Edobashi, Tsu city, Mie, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Kuroda
- Division of Medical Information Technology and Administration Planning, Kyoto University Hospital, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto city, Kyoto, Japan
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11
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Rzymski P, Zarębska-Michaluk D, Parczewski M, Genowska A, Poniedziałek B, Strukcinskiene B, Moniuszko-Malinowska A, Flisiak R. The burden of infectious diseases throughout and after the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2023) and Russo-Ukrainian war migration. J Med Virol 2024; 96:e29651. [PMID: 38712743 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.29651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Understanding how the infectious disease burden was affected throughout the COVID-19 pandemic is pivotal to identifying potential hot spots and guiding future mitigation measures. Therefore, our study aimed to analyze the changes in the rate of new cases of Poland's most frequent infectious diseases during the entire COVID-19 pandemic and after the influx of war refugees from Ukraine. We performed a registry-based population-wide study in Poland to analyze the changes in the rate of 24 infectious disease cases from 2020 to 2023 and compared them to the prepandemic period (2016-2019). Data were collected from publicly archived datasets of the Epimeld database published by national epidemiological authority institutions. The rate of most of the studied diseases (66.6%) revealed significantly negative correlations with the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infections. For the majority of infectious diseases, it substantially decreased in 2020 (in case of 83%) and 2021 (63%), following which it mostly rebounded to the prepandemic levels and, in some cases, exceeded them in 2023 when the exceptionally high annual rates of new cases of scarlet fever, Streptococcus pneumoniae infections, HIV infections, syphilis, gonococcal infections, and tick-borne encephalitis were noted. The rate of Clostridioides difficile enterocolitis was two-fold higher than before the pandemic from 2021 onward. The rate of Legionnaires' disease in 2023 also exceeded the prepandemic threshold, although this was due to a local outbreak unrelated to lifted COVID-19 pandemic restrictions or migration of war refugees. The influx of war migrants from Ukraine could impact the epidemiology of sexually transmitted diseases. The present analysis indicates that continued efforts are needed to prevent COVID-19 from overwhelming healthcare systems again and decreasing the control over the burden of other infectious diseases. It also identifies the potential tipping points that require additional mitigation measures, which are also discussed in the paper, to avoid escalation in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Rzymski
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | | | - Miłosz Parczewski
- Department of Infectious, Tropical Diseases and Immune Deficiency, Pomeranian Medical University, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Genowska
- Department of Public Health, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Barbara Poniedziałek
- Department of Environmental Medicine, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznań, Poland
| | | | - Anna Moniuszko-Malinowska
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Neuroinfections, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
| | - Robert Flisiak
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland
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12
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Arcaro P, Nachira L, Pattavina F, Campo E, Mancini R, Pascucci D, Damiani G, Carducci B, Spadea A, Lanzone A, Bruno S, Laurenti P. Assessing the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pregnant Women's Attitudes towards Childhood Vaccinations: A Cross-Sectional Study. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:473. [PMID: 38793724 PMCID: PMC11126003 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12050473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has globally disrupted immunisation practices, impacting vulnerable populations such as pregnant women (PW), who harbour concerns about future children's immunisations. This study aimed to assess the pandemic's impact on PW's attitudes towards childhood vaccinations. During three consecutive flu seasons from October 2019 to January 2022, a cross-sectional study was conducted in a large Italian teaching hospital using a questionnaire. The chi-square test was performed to compare each season. Across the 2019-2020 to 2021-2022 seasons, course attendance by PW surged from 105 to 340. Significant shifts in vaccination intentions were noted, including a 7.5% decrease in measles vaccination intent (p = 0.02) and a 10% decrease in that of pertussis (p = 0.004) from 2019-2020 to 2020-2021. While perceived contagion risk decreased, disease severity perceptions increased, with few significant differences. A statistically significant reduction was noted in the proportion of participants suspecting economic motives behind NHS workers' promotion of childhood vaccinations. Furthermore, the pandemic period saw an increase in the perceived utility of non-institutional websites and the advice of physicians outside the NHS. These findings will help develop evidence-based, tailored interventions and communication strategies to address vaccine hesitancy and ensure optimal vaccination coverage among children born during and after the pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Arcaro
- Section of Hygiene, University Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (P.A.); (L.N.); (E.C.); (R.M.); (G.D.); (S.B.); (P.L.)
| | - Lorenza Nachira
- Section of Hygiene, University Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (P.A.); (L.N.); (E.C.); (R.M.); (G.D.); (S.B.); (P.L.)
| | - Fabio Pattavina
- Women, Children and Public Health Sciences Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (B.C.); (A.L.)
| | - Enrica Campo
- Section of Hygiene, University Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (P.A.); (L.N.); (E.C.); (R.M.); (G.D.); (S.B.); (P.L.)
| | - Rossella Mancini
- Section of Hygiene, University Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (P.A.); (L.N.); (E.C.); (R.M.); (G.D.); (S.B.); (P.L.)
| | - Domenico Pascucci
- Section of Hygiene, University Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (P.A.); (L.N.); (E.C.); (R.M.); (G.D.); (S.B.); (P.L.)
- Health Management, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Damiani
- Section of Hygiene, University Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (P.A.); (L.N.); (E.C.); (R.M.); (G.D.); (S.B.); (P.L.)
- Women, Children and Public Health Sciences Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (B.C.); (A.L.)
| | - Brigida Carducci
- Women, Children and Public Health Sciences Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (B.C.); (A.L.)
| | | | - Antonio Lanzone
- Women, Children and Public Health Sciences Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (B.C.); (A.L.)
| | - Stefania Bruno
- Section of Hygiene, University Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (P.A.); (L.N.); (E.C.); (R.M.); (G.D.); (S.B.); (P.L.)
- Women, Children and Public Health Sciences Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (B.C.); (A.L.)
| | - Patrizia Laurenti
- Section of Hygiene, University Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome, Italy; (P.A.); (L.N.); (E.C.); (R.M.); (G.D.); (S.B.); (P.L.)
- Women, Children and Public Health Sciences Department, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy; (B.C.); (A.L.)
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13
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Hirotsu Y, Nagakubo Y, Maejima M, Shibusawa M, Hosaka K, Sueki H, Mochizuki H, Omata M. Changes in Viral Dynamics Following the Legal Relaxation of COVID-19 Mitigation Measures in Japan From Children to Adults: A Single Center Study, 2020-2023. Influenza Other Respir Viruses 2024; 18:e13278. [PMID: 38513611 PMCID: PMC10957242 DOI: 10.1111/irv.13278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Respiratory infections are an ongoing global health challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic triggered global nonpharmacological measures that reshaped public health. In Japan, the shift from legal to individual discretion in pandemic management started on May 8, 2023. However, it still unknown how the relaxation of measures affects respiratory pathogens across age groups. METHODS We collected 16,946 samples from 13,526 patients between February 2020 and September 2023, analyzing the circulating respiratory pathogen dynamics using FilmArray respiratory panel. RESULTS Our analysis revealed significant increases in the positivity rates of respiratory pathogens across multiple age groups after relaxation. The pathogens including adenovirus, Bordetella pertussis, parainfluenza 2 and parainfluenza 4 showed increased positivity predominantly in children aged under 10 years. Conversely, some pathogens including human metapneumovirus, rhinovirus/enterovirus, and respiratory virus (RSV) increased in broad range of age groups. SARS-CoV-2 positivity rates decreased in children under 10 years but increased in those aged over 60 years. DISCUSSION Age-stratified analysis reveals a dynamic pattern of circulating pathogen in each age group after relaxation measures. This study provides essential epidemiologic data that can guide strategies to protect different age groups and effectively respond to respiratory infections in post-COVID-19 era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yosuke Hirotsu
- Genome Analysis CenterYamanashi Central HospitalKofuYamanashiJapan
| | - Yuki Nagakubo
- Genome Analysis CenterYamanashi Central HospitalKofuYamanashiJapan
- Division of Microbiology in Clinical LaboratoryYamanashi Central HospitalKofuYamanashiJapan
- Division of Genetics and Clinical LaboratoryYamanashi Central HospitalKofuYamanashiJapan
| | - Makoto Maejima
- Division of Microbiology in Clinical LaboratoryYamanashi Central HospitalKofuYamanashiJapan
| | - Masahiro Shibusawa
- Division of Microbiology in Clinical LaboratoryYamanashi Central HospitalKofuYamanashiJapan
| | - Kazuhiro Hosaka
- Division of Microbiology in Clinical LaboratoryYamanashi Central HospitalKofuYamanashiJapan
| | - Hitomi Sueki
- Division of Microbiology in Clinical LaboratoryYamanashi Central HospitalKofuYamanashiJapan
| | - Hitoshi Mochizuki
- Genome Analysis CenterYamanashi Central HospitalKofuYamanashiJapan
- Central Clinical LaboratoryYamanashi Central HospitalKofuYamanashiJapan
- Department of GastroenterologyYamanashi Central HospitalKofuYamanashiJapan
| | - Masao Omata
- Department of GastroenterologyYamanashi Central HospitalKofuYamanashiJapan
- The University of TokyoTokyoJapan
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14
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Aizawa Y, Ikuse T, Izumita R, Habuka R, Yamanaka T, Saitoh A. Human Rhinovirus as a Cause of Fever in Neonates and Young Infants During the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-2022. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2024; 43:130-135. [PMID: 37851974 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000004139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Human rhinovirus (HRV) was predominant and persistent during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic despite nonpharmaceutical interventions. The data whether HRV persistence also occurred in neonates and young infants were very limited. METHODS This prospective observational study was conducted in Niigata, Japan, between January 2020 and September 2022. The participants were hospitalized neonates and infants less than 4 months of age with fever. We excluded patients with evidence of bacterial infection or obvious sick contact with influenza or respiratory syncytial virus infection, as confirmed by rapid antigen detection tests. COVID-19 diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or rapid antigen detection tests were also excluded. Parechovirus and enterovirus were examined by PCR using serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid. FilmArray Respiratory Panel v1.7 was conducted on nasopharyngeal swabs. If HRV was positive, the genotype was identified. RESULTS We included 72 patients (median age, 54 days; interquartile range, 28.5-79 days), and sepsis was diagnosed in 31 (43.1%) patients. In total, 27 (37.5%) patients had had positive multiplex PCR tests. These patients were more likely to have rhinorrhea ( P = 0.004), cough ( P = 0.01), and sick contact ( P < 0.001) than those who with negative multiplex PCR. HRV was the most frequently detected virus (n = 23, 85.2%), and species A (n = 15, 71.4%) and C (n = 6, 28.6%) were genotyped. No seasonality or monthly predominance of the specific HRV types was observed. CONCLUSIONS HRV was an important cause of fever in neonates and young infants during the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 to 2022.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Aizawa
- From the Department of Pediatrics, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan
| | - Tatsuki Ikuse
- From the Department of Pediatrics, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan
| | - Ryohei Izumita
- From the Department of Pediatrics, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Niigata City General Hospital, Niigata, Japan
| | - Rie Habuka
- From the Department of Pediatrics, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Niigata City General Hospital, Niigata, Japan
| | - Takayuki Yamanaka
- Department of Pediatrics, Niigata City General Hospital, Niigata, Japan
| | - Akihiko Saitoh
- From the Department of Pediatrics, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan
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15
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Hadano Y, Mori H, Oono S. Effects of Serum Antibody Test Reagent Discontinuation on Diagnosis of Amebiasis in Japan: Interrupted Time-Series Analysis. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2024; 110:83-86. [PMID: 38081056 PMCID: PMC10793013 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.23-0662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Amebiasis is a notifiable infectious disease in Japan, and the number of reported cases had been on the rise, but since the discontinuation of insurance-covered serum antibody testing reagent in 2017, concerns have arisen regarding the decrease in reported cases. This study aimed to investigate changes occurring after discontinuation of the serum antibody test reagent production. We retrospectively analyzed amebiasis cases from January 2014 to December 2019 using the National Center for Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases system. Interrupted time-series regression analysis was used to evaluate trends in weekly amebiasis cases before and after the discontinuation period. The study period was divided into prediscontinuation (2014-2017) and discontinuation (2018-2019) periods. A total of 6,179 amebiasis cases were reported. The average numbers of weekly cases were 21.5 during 2014-2017 and 16.3 during 2018-2019. The frequency of diagnoses decreased in the discontinuation period (prevalence rate ratio = 0.78; 95% CI, 0.67-0.89; P < 0.01). Subgroup analysis showed lower diagnostic rates, particularly for extraintestinal amebiasis (prevalence rate ratio = 0.37; 95% CI, 0.22-0.55; P < 0.01). We observed a significant decrease in the number of reported amebiasis cases per week after discontinuation of the serum antibody test reagent in Japan. Our findings hold significance for both public health policy and practice in Japan, underscoring the requirement for enhanced amebiasis diagnostic tools and strategies. To ensure accurate diagnosis, availability of antibody reagents for serum testing, covered by insurance, should be encouraged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiro Hadano
- Division of Infection Control and Prevention, Shimane University Hospital, Izumo Shimane, Japan
| | - Hirotake Mori
- Department of General Medicine, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Bunkyo-ku, Japan
| | - Satoshi Oono
- Division of Infection Control and Prevention, Shimane University Hospital, Izumo Shimane, Japan
- Clinical Research Center, Shimane University Hospital, Izumo Shimane, Japan
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16
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Stein-Zamir C, Shoob H, Abramson N, Brown EH, Zimmermann Y. Pertussis outbreak mainly in unvaccinated young children in ultra-orthodox Jewish groups, Jerusalem, Israel 2023. Epidemiol Infect 2023; 151:e166. [PMID: 37737060 PMCID: PMC10600895 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268823001577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite being a vaccine-preventable disease for decades, pertussis control is still a public health challenge. A pertussis outbreak emerged in Jerusalem (n = 257 cases, January to June 2023). Most cases were young children (median age 1.5 years), and 100 were infants under 1 year. The hospitalisation rate of infants was 24%, which was considerably higher than that of cases aged 1 year and above (3.8%). There was one fatality in an unvaccinated, 10-week-old infant whose mother had not received pertussis vaccination during pregnancy. Most children were unvaccinated and resided in Jewish ultra-orthodox neighbourhoods in Jerusalem district. An intervention programme and vaccination campaign are ongoing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Stein-Zamir
- Jerusalem District Health Office, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
- The Hebrew University and Hadassah Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Hanna Shoob
- Jerusalem District Health Office, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Nitza Abramson
- Jerusalem District Health Office, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Emilie Hannah Brown
- Jerusalem District Health Office, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
- The Hebrew University and Hadassah Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Faculty of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
- School of Public Health, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Yael Zimmermann
- Jerusalem District Health Office, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
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17
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de Souza CDF, Neto ERD, Matos TS, Ferreira ACF, Bezerra-Santos M, da Silva Junior AG, do Carmo RF. Bridging the Gaps: Investigating the Complex Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Tuberculosis Records in Brazil. Trop Med Infect Dis 2023; 8:454. [PMID: 37755915 PMCID: PMC10534437 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed8090454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study aimed to analyze the temporal evolution, spatial distribution, and impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on tuberculosis records in a northeastern state of Brazil. METHODS This is an ecological study involving all diagnoses of Tuberculosis (TB) in residents of the state of Pernambuco/Brazil. Data were extracted from the National System of Notifiable Diseases. A pre-pandemic COVID-19 temporal analysis (2001-2019), a spatial analysis before (2015-2019) and during the first two pandemic years (2020-2021), and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cases of TB diagnoses in Pernambuco in the years 2020 and 2021 were performed. Inflection point regression models, Global and Local Moran's statistics, and spatial scan statistics were used. RESULTS In the period from 2001 to 2019, 91,225 cases of TB were registered in Pernambuco (48.40/100,000 inhabitants), with a tendency of growth starting in 2007 (0.7% per year; p = 0.005). In the pre-pandemic period (2015-2019), 10.8% (n = 20) of Pernambuco municipalities had TB incidence rates below 10/100,000. In 2020, this percentage reached 27.0% (n = 50) and in 2021 it was 17.8% (n = 33). Risk clusters were identified in the eastern region of the state, with five clusters in the pre-pandemic period and in 2021 and six in 2020. In the first year of the pandemic, an 8.5% reduction in the number of new TB cases was observed. In 2021, the state showed a slight increase (1.1%) in the number of new TB cases. CONCLUSIONS The data indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic may have caused a reduction in the number of new TB case reports in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Dornels Freire de Souza
- Department of Medicine, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF), Petrolina 56304-205, Brazil; (E.R.D.N.); (A.C.F.F.)
| | - Epaminondas Ribeiro Dias Neto
- Department of Medicine, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF), Petrolina 56304-205, Brazil; (E.R.D.N.); (A.C.F.F.)
| | - Thais Silva Matos
- Department of physiotherapy, University of Pernambuco (UPE), Petrolina 56328-900, Brazil;
| | - Ana Carolina Furtado Ferreira
- Department of Medicine, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF), Petrolina 56304-205, Brazil; (E.R.D.N.); (A.C.F.F.)
| | - Márcio Bezerra-Santos
- Department of Medicine, Federal University of Alagoas (UFAL), Arapiraca 57309-005, Brazil;
| | | | - Rodrigo Feliciano do Carmo
- Postgraduate Program in Health and Biological Sciences, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF), Petrolina 56304-205, Brazil;
- Postgraduate Program in Biosciences, Federal University of Vale do São Francisco (UNIVASF), Petrolina 56304-205, Brazil
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18
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Liu M, Zhou J, Lan Y, Zhang H, Wu M, Zhang X, Leng L, Mi X, Li J. A Neglected Narrative in the COVID-19 Pandemic: Epidemiological and Clinical Impacts of the COVID-19 Outbreak on Syphilis. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2023; 16:2485-2496. [PMID: 37719933 PMCID: PMC10505047 DOI: 10.2147/ccid.s417522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly changed our lives. While healthcare resources were redistributed and mobilized to focus on dealing with the COVID-19 crisis, there have been unmet medical needs of patients with other diseases such as syphilis, weaving an integral but neglected component of the pandemic story. In different countries, the epidemiology of newly reported syphilis underwent diverse changes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Asymptomatic cases experienced the largest decline in number. From the perspective of transmission, on one hand, the implementation of lockdown measures led to a higher degree of abstinence and sex distancing in many countries, thereby reducing the transmission of syphilis. On the other hand, vertical transmission was reported to have increased significantly during COVID-19. Meanwhile, the volume of STI clinic capacity declined, and STI staff were redeployed to facilitate the contact tracing of COVID-19. As a result, many STI centers converted traditional in-person clinical services to telemedicine and self-testing. However, syphilis testing and clinical treatment cannot fully adapt to this conversion. In syphilis diagnosis, COVID-19 infection and vaccination were reported to cause false positivity in syphilis serological tests. Diverse cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 could resemble the skin lesions in syphilis patients, requiring differential diagnosis from clinicians. As for the post-pandemic years, consequent to service interruptions and diagnosis delays, a surge in the number of confirmed cases of syphilis is expected. The COVID-19 pandemic has also been a meaningful lesson for the control and prevention of infectious diseases. The experience in combating COVID-19 has underscored the importance of maintaining a robust and well-supported medical system for the provision of sexual health services and better healthcare equality even during eras of crisis, not least for syphilis patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjuan Liu
- Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- 4+4 M.D. Program, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jia Zhou
- Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yining Lan
- Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hanlin Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mengyin Wu
- Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xinyi Zhang
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Ling Leng
- Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xia Mi
- Department of Dermatology, Strategic Support Force Medical Center, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jun Li
- Department of Dermatology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
- State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
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19
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Burrell R, Saravanos G, Britton PN. Unintended impacts of COVID-19 on the epidemiology and burden of paediatric respiratory infections. Paediatr Respir Rev 2023:S1526-0542(23)00044-1. [PMID: 37580220 DOI: 10.1016/j.prrv.2023.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023]
Abstract
Acute respiratory infections (ARI), especially lower respiratory infections (LRI), are a leading cause of childhood morbidity and mortality globally. Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) employed during the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted on the epidemiology and burden of paediatric ARI, although accurately describing the full nature of the impact is challenging. For most ARI pathogens, a reduction was observed in the early phase of the pandemic, correlating with the most stringent NPI. In later phases of the pandemic resurgence of disease was observed as NPI eased. This pattern was most striking for seasonal viruses, such as influenza and respiratory syncytial virus. The impact on ARI-associated bacterial disease varied; marked reductions in invasive Streptococcus pneumoniae and Streptococcus pyogenes were observed, followed by a resurgence that correlated with increases in respiratory viral infections. For Corynebacterium diphtheriae,Bordetella pertussis, andMycoplasma pneumoniae, a sustained reduction of disease was observed well into 2022 in most regions. Proposedmechanisms for the varied epidemiological disruption amongst ARI pathogens includedifferential effects of NPI on specific pathogens, population-level immunological effects, and ecological and genetic pathogen adaptations. Additionally, important indirect effects of pandemic restrictions on paediatric respiratory infections have been identified. These occurred as a result of disruptions to routine health services, reductions in vaccination coverage, and disruptions to respiratory infection research and surveillance activities. Impacts have been disproportionately borne by those in low resource settings. We discuss opportunities to leverage pandemic learnings to support improved understanding of the epidemiology of paediatric respiratory infections to inform future prevention and health system strengthening. Educational Aims. The reader will gain an improved understanding of.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Burrell
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Australia; Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Gemma Saravanos
- Susan Wakil School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sydney, Australia; Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Philip N Britton
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases & Microbiology, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, Australia; Sydney Infectious Diseases Institute, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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20
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Begovac J, Romih Pintar V, Vrsaljko N, Močibob L, Bogdanić N, Zekan Š, Đaković Rode O. Incidence, risk factors, and clinical findings of syphilis among men living with HIV in Croatia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11784. [PMID: 37479770 PMCID: PMC10361976 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38807-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/23/2023] Open
Abstract
We conducted a nationwide longitudinal observational study to estimate the incidence of syphilis in a cohort of male persons living with HIV (MLWH) in Croatia in the pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 years. Data were reviewed and extracted from the clinical database. We analyzed 1187 MLWH (≥ 18 years) in care in Croatia from 2018 to 2021 and used Poisson regression to calculate rates. We observed a 91.4% increase in incidence between 2019 and 2020; the overall rate was 6.0/100 person-years, and the annual rate ranged from 3.3/100 person-years in 2018 to 9.3/100 person-years in 2021. We found higher rates in men who have sex with men, MLWH with a baseline history of syphilis, MLWH with a more recent HIV diagnosis, and a lower rate in those who had clinical AIDS. The rate of syphilis serological testing was 3.5% lower in 2020 compared to 2019. Recurrent syphilis was more likely asymptomatic compared to the first episodes. In conclusion, during the COVID-19 epidemic years, there was a huge increase in syphilis. Results highlight the need for enhanced and novel prevention interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josip Begovac
- University Hospital for Infectious Diseases "Dr. Fran Mihaljević", Zagreb, Croatia.
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Vanja Romih Pintar
- University Hospital for Infectious Diseases "Dr. Fran Mihaljević", Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nina Vrsaljko
- University Hospital for Infectious Diseases "Dr. Fran Mihaljević", Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Loris Močibob
- University Hospital for Infectious Diseases "Dr. Fran Mihaljević", Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Nikolina Bogdanić
- University Hospital for Infectious Diseases "Dr. Fran Mihaljević", Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Šime Zekan
- University Hospital for Infectious Diseases "Dr. Fran Mihaljević", Zagreb, Croatia
- School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Oktavija Đaković Rode
- University Hospital for Infectious Diseases "Dr. Fran Mihaljević", Zagreb, Croatia
- School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
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21
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Boboc AA, Novac CN, Marin AG, Ieșanu MI, Plătică C, Buzescu T, Coșoreanu MT, Galoș F. SARS-CoV-2 Positive Serology and Islet Autoantibodies in Newly Diagnosed Pediatric Cases of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus: A Single-Center Cohort Study. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108885. [PMID: 37240231 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, although presenting less severe forms of the disease in children, seems to play a role in the development of other conditions, including type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). After the beginning of the pandemic, an increase in the number of T1DM pediatric patients was observed in several countries, thus leading to many questions about the complex relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and T1DM. Our study aimed to highlight possible correlations between SARS-CoV-2 serology and T1DM onset. Therefore, we performed an observational retrospective cohort study that included 158 children diagnosed with T1DM in the period April 2021-April 2022. The presence or absence of SARS-CoV-2 and T1DM-specific antibodies and other laboratory findings were assessed. In the group of patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 serology, a higher percentage had detectable IA-2A antibodies, more children were positive for all three islet autoantibodies determined (GADA, ICA, and IA-2A), and a higher mean HbA1c value was found. No difference existed between the two groups regarding DKA presence and severity. A lower C-peptide level was found in the patients presenting diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) at T1DM onset. When compared to a group of patients diagnosed before the pandemic, an increased incidence of both DKA and severe DKA, as well as a higher age at diagnosis and higher levels of HbA1c were present in our study group. These findings have important implications for the ongoing monitoring and management of children with T1DM after the COVID-19 pandemic and highlight the need for further research to better understand the complex relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and T1DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anca Andreea Boboc
- Department of Pediatrics, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pediatrics, Marie Curie Emergency Children's Hospital, 041451 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Carmen Nicoleta Novac
- Department of Pediatrics, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pediatrics, Marie Curie Emergency Children's Hospital, 041451 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Alexandra Gabriela Marin
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Prof. Dr. Matei Balș National Institute of Infectious Diseases, 021105 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mara Ioana Ieșanu
- Department of Pediatrics, Marie Curie Emergency Children's Hospital, 041451 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Physiology, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Cristina Plătică
- Department of Pediatrics, Marie Curie Emergency Children's Hospital, 041451 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Teodora Buzescu
- Department of Pediatrics, Marie Curie Emergency Children's Hospital, 041451 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Maria Teodora Coșoreanu
- Department of Pediatrics, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pediatrics, Marie Curie Emergency Children's Hospital, 041451 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Felicia Galoș
- Department of Pediatrics, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Department of Pediatrics, Marie Curie Emergency Children's Hospital, 041451 Bucharest, Romania
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22
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ÓhAiseadha C, Quinn GA, Connolly R, Wilson A, Connolly M, Soon W, Hynds P. Unintended Consequences of COVID-19 Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs) for Population Health and Health Inequalities. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5223. [PMID: 37047846 PMCID: PMC10094123 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20075223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, governments around the world have adopted an array of measures intended to control the transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, using both pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs). NPIs are public health interventions that do not rely on vaccines or medicines and include policies such as lockdowns, stay-at-home orders, school closures, and travel restrictions. Although the intention was to slow viral transmission, emerging research indicates that these NPIs have also had unintended consequences for other aspects of public health. Hence, we conducted a narrative review of studies investigating these unintended consequences of NPIs, with a particular emphasis on mental health and on lifestyle risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCD): physical activity (PA), overweight and obesity, alcohol consumption, and tobacco smoking. We reviewed the scientific literature using combinations of search terms such as 'COVID-19', 'pandemic', 'lockdowns', 'mental health', 'physical activity', and 'obesity'. NPIs were found to have considerable adverse consequences for mental health, physical activity, and overweight and obesity. The impacts on alcohol and tobacco consumption varied greatly within and between studies. The variability in consequences for different groups implies increased health inequalities by age, sex/gender, socioeconomic status, pre-existing lifestyle, and place of residence. In conclusion, a proper assessment of the use of NPIs in attempts to control the spread of the pandemic should be weighed against the potential adverse impacts on other aspects of public health. Our findings should also be of relevance for future pandemic preparedness and pandemic response teams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coilín ÓhAiseadha
- Department of Public Health, Health Service Executive, D08 W2A8 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Gerry A. Quinn
- Centre for Molecular Biosciences, Ulster University, Coleraine BT52 1SA, UK
| | - Ronan Connolly
- Independent Scientist, D08 Dublin, Ireland
- Center for Environmental Research and Earth Sciences (CERES), Salem, MA 01970, USA
| | - Awwad Wilson
- National Drug Treatment Centre, Health Service Executive, D02 NY26 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Michael Connolly
- Independent Scientist, D08 Dublin, Ireland
- Center for Environmental Research and Earth Sciences (CERES), Salem, MA 01970, USA
| | - Willie Soon
- Center for Environmental Research and Earth Sciences (CERES), Salem, MA 01970, USA
- Institute of Earth Physics and Space Science (ELKH EPSS), H-9400 Sopron, Hungary
| | - Paul Hynds
- SpatioTemporal Environmental Epidemiology Research (STEER) Group, Environmental Sustainability & Health Institute, Technological University, D07 H6K8 Dublin, Ireland
- Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geoscience, University College Dublin, D02 FX65 Dublin, Ireland
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