Cross-sectional pilot study exploring the feasibility of a rapid SARS-CoV-2 immunization test in health and nonhealthcare workers

Características de profissionais de saúde acometidos por Covid-19: revisão integrativa da literatura

RESUMO O objetivo do estudo consistiu em identificar as características de profissionais de saúde acometidos por Covid-19. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura guiada por seis etapas e que pesquisou cinco fontes de dados. Após o estabelecimento do fluxo de seleção do material levantado (N=5.522), determinou-se a amostra de artigos analisada (n=30). Desta, foram sintetizadas informações a respeito das características dos trabalhadores e relativas ao acometimento por Covid-19. Entre os estudos selecionados, foram compilados dados de 10.760 trabalhadores de saúde, predominantemente da equipe de enfermagem (27,3%) e médicos (13,2%). A maior parte (n=20; 66,6%) dos estudos atestou que os profissionais de saúde foram contaminados no ambiente de trabalho, principalmente hospitalar. A testagem por RT-PCR foi o principal método diagnóstico. Alguns estudos (n=16; 53,3%) relataram comorbidades prévias entre os trabalhadores. Os principais sintomas da Covid-19 nos profissionais de saúde acometidos foram: febre, tosse, fadiga e mialgia. Constataram-se características que remontam em perfil concentrado de enfermeiras e médicos contaminados no hospital. Essa realidade foi focalizada entre pesquisas transversais chinesas, italianas e estadunidenses.

Accuracy of serological testing for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies: First results of a large mixed-method evaluation study

BACKGROUND

Serological immunoassays that can identify protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2 are needed to adapt quarantine measures, assess vaccination responses, and evaluate donor plasma. To date, however, the utility of such immunoassays remains unclear. In a mixed-design evaluation study, we compared the diagnostic accuracy of serological immunoassays that are based on various SARS-CoV-2 proteins and assessed the neutralizing activity of antibodies in patient sera.

METHODS

Consecutive patients admitted with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were prospectively followed alongside medical staff and biobank samples from winter 2018/2019. An in-house enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay utilizing recombinant receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein was developed and compared to three commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) targeting the nucleoprotein (N), the S1 domain of the spike protein (S1), and a lateral flow immunoassay (LFI) based on full-length spike protein. Neutralization assays with live SARS-CoV-2 were performed.

RESULTS

One thousand four hundred and seventy-seven individuals were included comprising 112 SARS-CoV-2 positives (defined as a positive real-time PCR result; prevalence 7.6%). IgG seroconversion occurred between day 0 and day 21. While the ELISAs showed sensitivities of 88.4% for RBD, 89.3% for S1, and 72.9% for N protein, the specificity was above 94% for all tests. Out of 54 SARS-CoV-2 positive individuals, 96.3% showed full neutralization of live SARS-CoV-2 at serum dilutions ≥ 1:16, while none of the 6 SARS-CoV-2-negative sera revealed neutralizing activity.

CONCLUSIONS

ELISAs targeting RBD and S1 protein of SARS-CoV-2 are promising immunoassays which shall be further evaluated in studies verifying diagnostic accuracy and protective immunity against SARS-CoV-2.

Risk factors for severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients: A review

The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has caused an unprecedented global social and economic impact, and high numbers of deaths. Many risk factors have been identified in the progression of COVID-19 into a severe and critical stage, including old age, male gender, underlying comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity, chronic lung diseases, heart, liver and kidney diseases, tumors, clinically apparent immunodeficiencies, local immunodeficiencies, such as early type I interferon secretion capacity, and pregnancy. Possible complications include acute kidney injury, coagulation disorders, thoromboembolism. The development of lymphopenia and eosinopenia are laboratory indicators of COVID-19. Laboratory parameters to monitor disease progression include lactate dehydrogenase, procalcitonin, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6), and ferritin. The development of a cytokine storm and extensive chest computed tomography imaging patterns are indicators of a severe disease. In addition, socioeconomic status, diet, lifestyle, geographical differences, ethnicity, exposed viral load, day of initiation of treatment, and quality of health care have been reported to influence individual outcomes. In this review, we highlight the scientific evidence on the risk factors of severity of COVID-19.