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Lee NJ, Woo S, Rhee JE, Lee J, Lee S, Kim EJ. Increased Trend of Adenovirus Activity After the COVID-19 Pandemic in South Korea: Analysis of National Surveillance Data. Ann Lab Med 2024; 44:581-585. [PMID: 39038912 PMCID: PMC11375195 DOI: 10.3343/alm.2023.0484] [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: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The adenovirus detection rate is <10% throughout the year in South Korea; however, during the summer of 2023, it showed an unusual increase. We analyzed the adenovirus detection rate using data from the Korea Respiratory Integrated Surveillance System before and after coronavirus disease (COVID-19) collected from 2019 to week 36 of 2023. Before the COVID-19 outbreak in 2019, the mean detection rate was 8.2%, which decreased to 6.1% during the COVID-19 pandemic from 2020 to 2022. In 2023, the mean detection rate was 14.3% in week 36 and the highest in week 34, at 42.2%, and adenovirus was predominantly detected in the summer. The detection rate by age group showed substantially high activity among 0-12-yr-olds after the pandemic. This age group had a steady mean rate of 9.5% during the pandemic, without seasonality. In 2023, the detection rate surged in the 0-6-yr and 7-12-yr age groups, peaking at 61.6% and 57.1%, respectively. The dominant epidemic serotypes were HAdV-1 and HAdV-2 during and HAdV-3 after the pandemic. The multifaceted non-pharmaceutical interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic considerably impacted the prevalence of common respiratory viruses and complicated respiratory virus patterns after the pandemic. Constant surveillance is crucial for epidemic preparedness to monitor the possible surge of certain respiratory viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nam-Joo Lee
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Laboratory Diagnosis and Analysis, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Cheongju, Korea
| | - SangHee Woo
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Laboratory Diagnosis and Analysis, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Cheongju, Korea
| | - Jee Eun Rhee
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Laboratory Diagnosis and Analysis, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Cheongju, Korea
| | - Jaehee Lee
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Laboratory Diagnosis and Analysis, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Cheongju, Korea
| | - Sangwon Lee
- Department of Laboratory Diagnosis and Analysis, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Cheongju, Korea
| | - Eun-Jin Kim
- Division of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Laboratory Diagnosis and Analysis, Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), Cheongju, Korea
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2
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Tan C, Chan CK, Ofner M, O'Brien J, Thomas NR, Callahan J, Pascual B, Palmer SJ, Serapion V, Fabro H, Kozak RA, Candon H, Chan AK, Powis JE, Leis JA. Implementation of point-of-care molecular testing for respiratory viruses in congregate living settings. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2024:1-5. [PMID: 38659123 DOI: 10.1017/ice.2024.72] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To implement and evaluate a point-of-care (POC) molecular testing platform for respiratory viruses in congregate living settings (CLS). DESIGN Prospective quality improvement study. SETTING Seven CLS, including three nursing homes and four independent-living facilities. PARTICIPANTS Residents of CLS. METHODS A POC platform for COVID-19, influenza A and B, and respiratory syncytial virus was implemented at participating CLS from December 1, 2022 to April 15, 2023. Residents with respiratory symptoms underwent paired testing, with respiratory specimens tested first with the POC platform and then delivered to an off-site laboratory for multiplex respiratory virus panel (MRVP) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as per standard protocol. Turn-around time and diagnostic accuracy of the POC platform were compared against MRVP PCR. In an exploratory analysis, time to outbreak declaration among participating CLS was compared against a convenience sample of 19 CLS that did not use the POC platform. RESULTS A total of 290 specimens that underwent paired testing were included. Turn-around time to result was significantly shorter with the POC platform compared to MRVP PCR, with median difference of 36.2 hours (interquartile range 21.8-46.4 hours). The POC platform had excellent diagnostic accuracy compared to MRVP PCR, with area under the curve statistic of .96. Time to outbreak declaration was shorter in CLS that used the POC platform compared to CLS that did not. CONCLUSION Rapid POC testing platforms for respiratory viruses can be implemented in CLS, with high diagnostic accuracy, expedited turn-around times, and shorter time to outbreak declaration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlie Tan
- Infection Prevention and Control, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Christina K Chan
- Infection Prevention and Control, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Marianna Ofner
- Infection Prevention and Control, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jaclyn O'Brien
- Infection Prevention and Control, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Neethu R Thomas
- Infection Prevention and Control, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James Callahan
- Infection Prevention and Control, Toronto East Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Brigitte Pascual
- Infection Prevention and Control, Toronto East Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shawn J Palmer
- Infection Prevention and Control, Toronto East Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Victoria Serapion
- Infection Prevention and Control, Toronto East Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hannah Fabro
- Infection Prevention and Control, Toronto East Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Robert A Kozak
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Heather Candon
- Infection Prevention and Control, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Adrienne K Chan
- Infection Prevention and Control, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jeff E Powis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Infection Prevention and Control, Toronto East Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jerome A Leis
- Infection Prevention and Control, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Gravagna K, Wolfson C, Basta NE. Influenza vaccine coverage and factors associated with non-vaccination among caregiving and care-receiving adults in the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging (CLSA). BMC Public Health 2024; 24:924. [PMID: 38553696 PMCID: PMC10981287 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18372-6] [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: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Influenza vaccination is recommended for those at increased risk of influenza complications and their household contacts to help reduce influenza exposure. Adults who require care often experience health issues that could increase the risk of severe influenza and have close contact with caregivers. Assessing influenza vaccination prevalence in caregivers and care recipients can provide important information about uptake. OBJECTIVES We aimed to (1) estimate influenza non-vaccination prevalence and (2) assess factors associated with non-vaccination among caregivers aged ≥ 45 years and among care recipients aged ≥ 65 years. METHODS We conducted an analysis of cross-sectional data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging collected 2015-2018. We estimated non-vaccination prevalence and reported adjusted odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals from logistic regression models to identify factors associated with non-vaccination among caregivers and care recipients. RESULTS Of the 23,500 CLSA participants who reported providing care, 41.4% (95% CI: 40.8%, 42.0%) reported not receiving influenza vaccine in the previous 12 months. Among the 5,559 participants who reported receiving professional or non-professional care, 24.8% (95% CI: 23.7%, 26.0%) reported not receiving influenza vaccine during the same period. For both groups, the odds of non-vaccination were higher for those who had not visited a family doctor in the past year, were daily smokers, and those who identified as non-white. DISCUSSION Identifying groups at high risk of severe influenza and their close contacts can inform public health efforts to reduce the risk of influenza. Our results suggest sub-optimal influenza vaccination uptake among caregivers and care recipients. Efforts are needed to increase influenza vaccination and highlight the direct and indirect benefits for caregiver-care recipient pairs. CONCLUSION The proportions of both caregivers and care recipients who had not been vaccinated for influenza was high, despite the benefits of vaccination. Influenza vaccination campaigns could target undervaccinated, high-risk groups to increase coverage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katie Gravagna
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Christina Wolfson
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Neuroepidemiology Research Unit, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Nicole E Basta
- Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, School of Population and Global Health, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Iskander C, Stukel TA, Diong C, Guan J, Saunders N, Cohen E, Brownell M, Mahar A, Shulman R, Gandhi S, Guttmann A. Acute health care use among children during the first 2.5 years of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada: a population-based repeated cross-sectional study. CMAJ 2024; 196:E1-E13. [PMID: 38228342 PMCID: PMC10802996 DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.221726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effects of the decline in health care use at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health of children are unclear. We sought to estimate changes in rates of severe and potentially preventable health outcomes among children during the pandemic. METHODS We conducted a repeated cross-sectional study of children aged 0-17 years using linked population health administrative and disease registry data from January 2017 through August 2022 in Ontario, Canada. We compared observed rates of emergency department visits and hospital admissions during the pandemic to predicted rates based on the 3 years preceding the pandemic. We evaluated outcomes among children and neonates overall, among children with chronic health conditions and among children with specific diseases sensitive to delays in care. RESULTS All acute care use for children decreased immediately at the onset of the pandemic, reaching its lowest rate in April 2020 for emergency department visits (adjusted relative rate [RR] 0.28, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.28-0.29) and hospital admissions (adjusted RR 0.43, 95% CI 0.42-0.44). These decreases were sustained until September 2021 and May 2022, respectively. During the pandemic overall, rates of all-cause mortality, admissions for ambulatory care-sensitive conditions, newborn readmissions or emergency department visits or hospital admissions among children with chronic health conditions did not exceed predicted rates. However, after declining significantly between March and May 2020, new presentations of diabetes mellitus increased significantly during most of 2021 (peak adjusted RR 1.49, 95% CI 1.28-1.74 in July 2021) and much of 2022. Among these children, presentations for diabetic ketoacidosis were significantly higher than expected during the pandemic overall (adjusted RR 1.14, 95% CI 1.00-1.30). We observed similar time trends for new presentations of cancer, but we observed no excess presentations of severe cancer overall (adjusted RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.62-1.34). INTERPRETATION In the first 30 months of the pandemic, disruptions to care were associated with important delays in new diagnoses of diabetes but not with other acute presentations of select preventable conditions or with mortality. Mitigation strategies in future pandemics or other health system disruptions should include education campaigns around important symptoms in children that require medical attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Iskander
- ICES (Iskander, Stukel, Diong, Guan, Saunders, Cohen, Mahar, Shulman, Gandhi, Guttmann); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Stukel, Shulman), University of Toronto; Department of Paediatrics (Saunders, Cohen, Guttmann), Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Community Health Sciences (Brownell, Mahar), University of Manitoba; Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (Brownell), Winnipeg, Man
| | - Therese A Stukel
- ICES (Iskander, Stukel, Diong, Guan, Saunders, Cohen, Mahar, Shulman, Gandhi, Guttmann); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Stukel, Shulman), University of Toronto; Department of Paediatrics (Saunders, Cohen, Guttmann), Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Community Health Sciences (Brownell, Mahar), University of Manitoba; Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (Brownell), Winnipeg, Man
| | - Christina Diong
- ICES (Iskander, Stukel, Diong, Guan, Saunders, Cohen, Mahar, Shulman, Gandhi, Guttmann); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Stukel, Shulman), University of Toronto; Department of Paediatrics (Saunders, Cohen, Guttmann), Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Community Health Sciences (Brownell, Mahar), University of Manitoba; Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (Brownell), Winnipeg, Man
| | - Jun Guan
- ICES (Iskander, Stukel, Diong, Guan, Saunders, Cohen, Mahar, Shulman, Gandhi, Guttmann); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Stukel, Shulman), University of Toronto; Department of Paediatrics (Saunders, Cohen, Guttmann), Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Community Health Sciences (Brownell, Mahar), University of Manitoba; Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (Brownell), Winnipeg, Man
| | - Natasha Saunders
- ICES (Iskander, Stukel, Diong, Guan, Saunders, Cohen, Mahar, Shulman, Gandhi, Guttmann); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Stukel, Shulman), University of Toronto; Department of Paediatrics (Saunders, Cohen, Guttmann), Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Community Health Sciences (Brownell, Mahar), University of Manitoba; Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (Brownell), Winnipeg, Man
| | - Eyal Cohen
- ICES (Iskander, Stukel, Diong, Guan, Saunders, Cohen, Mahar, Shulman, Gandhi, Guttmann); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Stukel, Shulman), University of Toronto; Department of Paediatrics (Saunders, Cohen, Guttmann), Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Community Health Sciences (Brownell, Mahar), University of Manitoba; Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (Brownell), Winnipeg, Man
| | - Marni Brownell
- ICES (Iskander, Stukel, Diong, Guan, Saunders, Cohen, Mahar, Shulman, Gandhi, Guttmann); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Stukel, Shulman), University of Toronto; Department of Paediatrics (Saunders, Cohen, Guttmann), Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Community Health Sciences (Brownell, Mahar), University of Manitoba; Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (Brownell), Winnipeg, Man
| | - Alyson Mahar
- ICES (Iskander, Stukel, Diong, Guan, Saunders, Cohen, Mahar, Shulman, Gandhi, Guttmann); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Stukel, Shulman), University of Toronto; Department of Paediatrics (Saunders, Cohen, Guttmann), Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Community Health Sciences (Brownell, Mahar), University of Manitoba; Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (Brownell), Winnipeg, Man
| | - Rayzel Shulman
- ICES (Iskander, Stukel, Diong, Guan, Saunders, Cohen, Mahar, Shulman, Gandhi, Guttmann); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Stukel, Shulman), University of Toronto; Department of Paediatrics (Saunders, Cohen, Guttmann), Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Community Health Sciences (Brownell, Mahar), University of Manitoba; Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (Brownell), Winnipeg, Man
| | - Sima Gandhi
- ICES (Iskander, Stukel, Diong, Guan, Saunders, Cohen, Mahar, Shulman, Gandhi, Guttmann); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Stukel, Shulman), University of Toronto; Department of Paediatrics (Saunders, Cohen, Guttmann), Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Community Health Sciences (Brownell, Mahar), University of Manitoba; Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (Brownell), Winnipeg, Man
| | - Astrid Guttmann
- ICES (Iskander, Stukel, Diong, Guan, Saunders, Cohen, Mahar, Shulman, Gandhi, Guttmann); Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation (Stukel, Shulman), University of Toronto; Department of Paediatrics (Saunders, Cohen, Guttmann), Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Community Health Sciences (Brownell, Mahar), University of Manitoba; Manitoba Centre for Health Policy (Brownell), Winnipeg, Man.
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Chan CK, Leis JA, Candon H, Thomas NR, O’Brien J, Callahan J, Pascual B, Ofner M, Fazalullasha F, Chan AK, Powis JE, Tan C. Influenza outbreak management tabletop exercise for congregate living settings. ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP & HEALTHCARE EPIDEMIOLOGY : ASHE 2024; 4:e4. [PMID: 38234418 PMCID: PMC10789978 DOI: 10.1017/ash.2023.528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
We conducted a tabletop exercise on influenza outbreak preparedness that engaged a large group of congregate living settings (CLS), with improvements in self-reported knowledge and readiness. This proactive approach to responding to communicable disease threats has potential to build infection prevention and control capacity beyond COVID-19 in the CLS sector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina K. Chan
- Infection Prevention and Control, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jerome A. Leis
- Infection Prevention and Control, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Heather Candon
- Infection Prevention and Control, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Neethu R. Thomas
- Infection Prevention and Control, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jaclyn O’Brien
- Infection Prevention and Control, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James Callahan
- Infection Prevention and Control, Toronto East Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Brigitte Pascual
- Infection Prevention and Control, Toronto East Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Marianna Ofner
- Infection Prevention and Control, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Adrienne K. Chan
- Infection Prevention and Control, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jeff E. Powis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Infection Prevention and Control, Toronto East Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Charlie Tan
- Infection Prevention and Control, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Establishing Pandemic Influenza Severity Assessment (PISA) parameters and thresholds for Canada's FluWatch program. CANADA COMMUNICABLE DISEASE REPORT = RELEVE DES MALADIES TRANSMISSIBLES AU CANADA 2023; 49:487-493. [PMID: 38504879 PMCID: PMC10946583 DOI: 10.14745/ccdr.v49i1112a04] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Background The World Health Organization (WHO) developed a structured framework to enable countries to rapidly assess the severity of an influenza pandemic. This framework, the Pandemic Influenza Severity Assessment (PISA), is intended to be performed weekly during seasonal epidemics so that assessing influenza severity during a pandemic can be done with greater ease and efficiency. Objective Using influenza surveillance indicators within Canada's FluWatch program from seasons 2014-2015 to 2018-2019, national PISA thresholds were developed and assessed against seasonal data for seasons 2019-2020 to June of 2022-2023. Outcomes Canada developed thresholds for each required indicator (transmissibility, seriousness of disease and impact) for multiple WHO-recommended parameters. The thresholds were assessed against four seasons, and it was determined that there was a good agreement between the PISA assessments and the characterization of the season by FluWatch epidemiologists. Conclusion With confidence in the validity of the PISA thresholds, the FluWatch program will begin to share PISA assessments weekly through the FluWatch report in the 2023-2024 seasons to help characterize influenza activity in Canada and inform responses to the seasonal influenza epidemic.
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Ben Moussa M, Rahal A, Lee L, Mukhi S. Syndromic surveillance performance in Canada throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, March 1, 2020 to March 4, 2023. CANADA COMMUNICABLE DISEASE REPORT = RELEVE DES MALADIES TRANSMISSIBLES AU CANADA 2023; 49:501-509. [PMID: 38504875 PMCID: PMC10946582 DOI: 10.14745/ccdr.v49i1112a06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has highlighted the need for robust surveillance of respiratory viruses. Syndromic surveillance continues to be an important surveillance component recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). While FluWatchers, Canada's syndromic surveillance system, has been in place since 2015, the COVID-19 pandemic provided a valuable opportunity to expand the program's scope and underlying technology infrastructure. Following some structural changes to FluWatchers syndromic questionnaire, participants are now able to contribute valuable data to the non-specific surveillance of respiratory virus activity across Canada. This article examines the performance of FluWatchers' syndromic surveillance over the three years of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. More specifically, this article examines FluWatchers' performance with respect to the correlation between the FluWatchers influenza-like illness (ILI) and acute respiratory infection (ARI) indicators and total respiratory virus detections (RVDs) in Canada, including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and other respiratory viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myriam Ben Moussa
- Centre for Emerging and Respiratory Infections and Pandemic Preparedness, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
| | - Abbas Rahal
- Centre for Emerging and Respiratory Infections and Pandemic Preparedness, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
| | - Liza Lee
- Centre for Emerging and Respiratory Infections and Pandemic Preparedness, Public Health Agency of Canada, Ottawa, ON
| | - Shamir Mukhi
- Canadian Network for Public Health Intelligence, National Microbiology Laboratory, Edmonton, AB
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8
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Zdanowicz K, Lewandowski D, Majewski P, Półkośnik K, Liwoch-Nienartowicz N, Reszeć-Giełażyn J, Lebensztejn DM, Sulik A, Toczyłowski K. Clinical Presentation and Co-Detection of Respiratory Pathogens in Children Under 5 Years with Non-COVID-19 Bacterial and Viral Respiratory Tract Infections: A Prospective Study in Białystok, Poland (2021-2022). Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e941785. [PMID: 37794657 PMCID: PMC10563589 DOI: 10.12659/msm.941785] [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: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) in children often involve a complex interplay between viruses and bacteria. This study aimed to evaluate clinical presentation in children under 5 years old diagnosed with non-COVID-19 bacterial and viral respiratory tract co-infections between October 2021 and May 2022 in Białystok, Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS We recruited 100 children under 5 years with RTIs who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. Nasopharyngeal swabs were screened for 19 viruses and 7 bacterial strains using molecular assays. RESULTS Viral pathogens were detected in 71% of patients and bacterial pathogens were detected in 59%. The most common pathogens were Haemophilus influenzae (n=48), rhinoviruses (n=32), and Streptococcus pneumoniae (n=30). Single pathogens were detected in 36%, dual in 37%, triple in 15%, and quadruple in 2%. Bacterial pathogens were co-detected with viruses in 40 cases, mostly with rhinoviruses (n=15). Two different viruses were found in 14 children and the most common co-detection was adenovirus with rhinovirus (n=5); dyspnea (63% vs 11%) and wheezing (75% vs 22%) were more common in children with human bocavirus. Fever was a common symptom in children with human adenovirus (88% vs 58%). Detection of bacteria and multiple detections were more common in day-care attendees, but were not associated with clinical picture of RTI. CONCLUSIONS Consistent with previous studies, we found a high prevalence of rhinoviruses, despite ongoing implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions to contain the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-detection of 2 different respiratory pathogens was frequent, but we found no evidence that this was associated with the severity of infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Zdanowicz
- Department of Paediatrics, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutrition, Allergology and Pulmonology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - Dawid Lewandowski
- Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - Piotr Majewski
- Department of Microbiological Diagnostics and Infectious Immunology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - Kinga Półkośnik
- Department of Paediatrics, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutrition, Allergology and Pulmonology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland
| | | | - Joanna Reszeć-Giełażyn
- Department of Medical Pathomorphology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - Dariusz Marek Lebensztejn
- Department of Paediatrics, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutrition, Allergology and Pulmonology, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - Artur Sulik
- Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland
| | - Kacper Toczyłowski
- Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Białystok, Białystok, Poland
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9
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Skowronski DM, Chuang ES, Sabaiduc S, Kaweski SE, Kim S, Dickinson JA, Olsha R, Gubbay JB, Zelyas N, Charest H, Bastien N, Jassem AN, De Serres G. Vaccine effectiveness estimates from an early-season influenza A(H3N2) epidemic, including unique genetic diversity with reassortment, Canada, 2022/23. Euro Surveill 2023; 28:2300043. [PMID: 36729117 PMCID: PMC9896608 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2023.28.5.2300043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The Canadian Sentinel Practitioner Surveillance Network estimated vaccine effectiveness (VE) during the unusually early 2022/23 influenza A(H3N2) epidemic. Like vaccine, circulating viruses were clade 3C.2a1b.2a.2, but with genetic diversity affecting haemagglutinin positions 135 and 156, and reassortment such that H156 viruses acquired neuraminidase from clade 3C.2a1b.1a. Vaccine provided substantial protection with A(H3N2) VE of 54% (95% CI: 38 to 66) overall. VE was similar against H156 and vaccine-like S156 viruses, but with potential variation based on diversity at position 135.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danuta M Skowronski
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Erica Sy Chuang
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Suzana Sabaiduc
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, Canada
| | | | - Shinhye Kim
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, Canada
| | | | | | - Jonathan B Gubbay
- University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Canada
| | - Nathan Zelyas
- Public Health Laboratory, Alberta Precision Laboratories, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Hugues Charest
- Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec, Canada
| | - Nathalie Bastien
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Agatha N Jassem
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Gaston De Serres
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Québec, Québec, Canada
- Laval University, Quebec, Canada
- Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec, Québec, Canada
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