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Vyas N, Bennett A, Shaver N, Beck A, Zitiktye G, Whelan B, O’Regan R, Conway A, Skidmore B, Moher D, Little J. SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk for common group activities and settings: a living scoping review. Eur J Public Health 2024; 34:196-201. [PMID: 37995320 PMCID: PMC10843946 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckad195] [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] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND While the modes of transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) are well studied, the risk of transmission in various group settings or activities is less clear. This living scoping review aims to summarize the risk factors of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) spread in common group activities (e.g. social gatherings) or settings (e.g. schools, hospitals, shared workplaces) to understand the drivers of transmission and to inform a risk assessment profile tool for use of rapid antigen detection tests. METHODS We systematically searched electronic databases, MEDLINE and Embase, from January 2019 until February 2022. We included studies that evaluated the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in activities and settings, deemed strategically important to government departments in Ireland, provided by the Department of Health (Ireland) Expert Advisory Group on Rapid Testing. RESULTS After screening 14 052 records, data from 139 studies were narratively synthesized. The risk was consistently reported as 'high' for large social events (e.g. weddings) and indoor sports, working in healthcare settings and shared workplaces, working/living in residential settings and travelling via public transportation. Most studies were from healthcare settings, with common risk factors including close contact with COVID-19 cases, working in high-risk departments and inappropriate use of personal protective equipment. For other settings and activities, lack of infection prevention and control practices reportedly contributed to infection transmission. CONCLUSION The heterogeneity across studies and lack of direct information on dominant variants, preventive measures, vaccination coverage necessitates further research on transmission risk within group activities to inform infection prevention and control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niyati Vyas
- Knowledge Synthesis and Application Unit, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alexandria Bennett
- Knowledge Synthesis and Application Unit, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicole Shaver
- Knowledge Synthesis and Application Unit, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Andrew Beck
- Knowledge Synthesis and Application Unit, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Gabriele Zitiktye
- Knowledge Synthesis and Application Unit, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Barbara Whelan
- Evidence Synthesis Ireland & Cochrane Ireland, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Rhea O’Regan
- Evidence Synthesis Ireland & Cochrane Ireland, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Aileen Conway
- Evidence Synthesis Ireland & Cochrane Ireland, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Becky Skidmore
- Independent Information Specialist, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - David Moher
- Knowledge Synthesis and Application Unit, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- Clinical Epidemiology Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Julian Little
- Knowledge Synthesis and Application Unit, School of Epidemiology and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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McLennan K, Barton E, Lang C, Adams IR, McAllister G, Reijns MAM, Templeton K, Johannessen I, Leckie A, Gilbert N. User acceptability of saliva and gargle samples for identifying COVID-19 positive high-risk workers and household contacts. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2022; 104:115732. [PMID: 35728458 PMCID: PMC9132684 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2022.115732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic nasopharyngeal or nose and/or throat swabs (NTS) have been the primary approach for collecting patient samples for the subsequent detection of viral RNA. However, this procedure, if undertaken correctly, can be unpleasant and therefore deters individuals from providing high quality samples. To overcome these limitations other modes of sample collection have been explored. In a cohort of frontline health care workers we have compared saliva and gargle samples to gold-standard NTS. 93% of individuals preferred providing saliva or gargle samples, with little sex-dependent variation. Viral titers collected in samples were analyzed using standard methods and showed that gargle and saliva were similarly comparable for identifying COVID-19 positive individuals compared to NTS (92% sensitivity; 98% specificity). We suggest that gargle and saliva collection are viable alternatives to NTS swabs and may encourage testing to provide better disease diagnosis and population surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsty McLennan
- Occupational Health and Safety Service, Astley Ainsley Hospital, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK.
| | - Ellen Barton
- Occupational Health and Safety Service, Astley Ainsley Hospital, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Christie Lang
- Occupational Health and Safety Service, Astley Ainsley Hospital, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ian R Adams
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Gina McAllister
- Clinical Microbiology and Virology, Directorate of Laboratory Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Martin A M Reijns
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kate Templeton
- Clinical Microbiology and Virology, Directorate of Laboratory Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Ingólfur Johannessen
- Clinical Microbiology and Virology, Directorate of Laboratory Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Alastair Leckie
- Occupational Health and Safety Service, Astley Ainsley Hospital, NHS Lothian, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Nick Gilbert
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Cancer, University of Edinburgh, UK.
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