1
|
Lin TY, Hsu CY, Yen AMF, Chen SLS, Chen THH. Assessing Excess Mortality of Baby Boomers from the COVID-19 Pandemic: Taiwan Omicron-naïve Cohort. J Epidemiol Glob Health 2024:10.1007/s44197-024-00262-0. [PMID: 38902563 DOI: 10.1007/s44197-024-00262-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asia's elderly Baby Boomer demographic (born between 1946 and 1964) faced a huge problem during the COVID-19 pandemic due to increased all-cause mortality. We aimed to provide a unique Taiwan situation regarding the impact of Baby Boomers on excess mortalities from all causes relative to non-Baby Boomers throughout distinct times of SARS-CoV-2 mutations during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS We used the Poisson time series design with a Bayesian directed acyclic graphic approach to build the background mortality prior to the COVID-19 pandemic between 2015 and 2019. It was then used for predicting the expected all-cause deaths compared to the reported figures during the COVID-19 pandemic period based on Taiwan residents, an Omicron-naïve cohort. RESULTS Baby Boomers experienced a 2% negative excess mortality in 2020 (Wuhan/D614G) and a 4% excess mortality in 2021 (Alpha/Delta) with a rising background mortality trend whereas non-Baby Boomers showed the corresponding figures of 4% negative excess and 1% excess with a stable trend. Baby Boomer and non-Baby Boomer excess mortality soared to 9% (95% CI: 7-10%) and 10% (95% CI: 9-11%), respectively, during the epidemic Omicron period from January to June 2022. Surprisingly, Baby Boomers aged 58-76 experienced the same 9% excess mortality as non-Baby Boomers aged 77 and beyond. Non-COVID-19 deaths were more prevalent among Baby Boomers than non-Baby Boomers (33% vs. 29%). CONCLUSION Baby Boomers were more likely to die from COVID-19 in early pandemic and had more non-COVID-19 deaths in late pandemic than older non-Baby Boomers demonstrated in Taiwan Omicron-naïve cohort. For this vulnerable population, adequate access to medical care and medical capacity require more consideration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Yu Lin
- Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Room 533, No. 17, Xu-Zhou Road, Taipei, 100, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Yang Hsu
- Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Room 533, No. 17, Xu-Zhou Road, Taipei, 100, Taiwan
- Department of Emergency, Dachung Hospital, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Amy Ming-Fang Yen
- School of Oral Hygiene, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Sam Li-Sheng Chen
- School of Oral Hygiene, College of Oral Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tony Hsiu-Hsi Chen
- Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Room 533, No. 17, Xu-Zhou Road, Taipei, 100, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Alzaydi M, Alosaimi A, Alghamdi AA, Bamogaddam IY, Altassan MA, Almazrua A, Althawadi S, Alghamdi SM. Changes in seasonal respiratory viral infections among pediatric population around the COVID-19 pandemic; 2019-2023. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2024:10.1007/s10096-024-04860-5. [PMID: 38814498 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-024-04860-5] [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: 03/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aims to describe the prevalence and the fluctuations of respiratory viral infections among the pediatric population in a tertiary care center during 2019-2023, parallel with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the specific preventative measures applied in the region during this time. METHODS In this observational study, we extracted all respiratory virus PCR tests collected from pediatric patients (< 15 years old) between January 2019 and March 2023. Data on the positivity rate and prevalence of 18 respiratory viruses were presented over the study period. RESULTS The lowest rate for the studied respiratory viruses was observed in 2020/2021 (during the COVID-19 pandemic), followed by a gradual increase in positive cases in the 2021/2022 season. Timing (seasonality) was altered during 2022/2023 with an early circulation of respiratory viruses in May-June followed by an early start of the usual respiratory viruses' season in September, leading to prolonged respiratory virus activity. Most respiratory viruses were circulating at unprecedented levels during the 2022/2023 season, with rhinovirus/enterovirus being the most commonly detected virus in all seasons. Other viruses that had atypical activity after the COVID-19 pandemic were influenza A(H3) virus, adenovirus, and parainfluenza 3 virus. CONCLUSION Our study demonstrates the extended influence of the COVID-19 pandemic and its associated community restriction measures on the timing and distribution of other respiratory viruses. Continuous monitoring of changes in the circulation of respiratory viruses is crucial for the success of related public health measures such as vaccination distributions and epidemic preparedness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mashael Alzaydi
- Department of Pediatrics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Aeshah Alosaimi
- Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
| | - Atheer A Alghamdi
- Department of Pediatrics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Israa Y Bamogaddam
- Department of Pediatrics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Maryam A Altassan
- Department of Pediatrics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Afnan Almazrua
- Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Sahar Althawadi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Salem M Alghamdi
- Department of Pediatrics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, P.O. Box 3354, Riyadh, 11211, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sadeh Tehrani R, Mohammadjafari H, Alizadeh S, Naseroleslami M, Karbalaie Niya MH. The prevalence of 17 common respiratory viruses in patients with respiratory illness but negative for COVID-19: A cross-sectional study. Health Sci Rep 2024; 7:e1986. [PMID: 38524773 PMCID: PMC10957717 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Second to COVID-19 pandemic, other viral respiratory infections are still important causes of human diseases or co-infections. Hence, the present study was carried out to investigate the common respiratory viruses in patients with respiratory illness diagnosed negative for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 in primary screening. Methods In a cross-sectional study, a real-time PCR was carried out using HiTeq. 17 Viro Respiratory pathogen One Step RT-PCR Kit (Genova, Bonda Faravar, Bioluence, Tehran, Iran). Results A total of 311 individuals (mean age ± SD: 48.2 ± 21.7 years, range: 1-97 years) underwent second PCR. Among these, 161 (51.7%) were female. In total, 55 (17.6%) cases (mean age ± SD: 45.7 ± 18.1 years) were found positive for respiratory viruses panel in the second PCR. The HCoV-OC43/HKU1 was in 5.4% (17/311), Flu A in 4.5% (14/311), HCoV-229E/NL63 in 2.8% (9/311), HMPV in 1.9% (6/311), HPiV 1, 2, 3 in 1.2% (4/311), HRSV in 0.9% (3/311), and HAdV in 0.6% (2/311) of the cases studies. Also, co-infection was detected in 4 samples (1.2%). In addition, sore throat (0.028), headache (p = 0.016), and body pain (p = 0.0001) were statistically the most significant symptoms in studied cases. Conclusion According to the findings of our study, respiratory virus infections and co-infections were 17.6% and 1.2% frequent, respectively. Interestingly, nearly half of our positive cases (47.2%) were identified by coronaviruses (ОС43, Е229, NL63, and HKUI), followed by influenza A virus (25.4%). However, for more comprehensive results, we recommend using greater sample size.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Reyhaneh Sadeh Tehrani
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical SciencesIslamic Azad UniversityTehranIran
| | - Hanieh Mohammadjafari
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical SciencesIslamic Azad UniversityTehranIran
| | - Sheida Alizadeh
- Department of Bacteriology and VirologyShiraz University of Medical SciencesShirazIran
- Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases Research CenterIran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| | - Maryam Naseroleslami
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical SciencesIslamic Azad UniversityTehranIran
| | - Mohammad Hadi Karbalaie Niya
- Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases Research CenterIran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
- Department of Virology, School of MedicineIran University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
de Jong SPJ, Felix Garza ZC, Gibson JC, van Leeuwen S, de Vries RP, Boons GJ, van Hoesel M, de Haan K, van Groeningen LE, Hulme KD, van Willigen HDG, Wynberg E, de Bree GJ, Matser A, Bakker M, van der Hoek L, Prins M, Kootstra NA, Eggink D, Nichols BE, Han AX, de Jong MD, Russell CA. Determinants of epidemic size and the impacts of lulls in seasonal influenza virus circulation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:591. [PMID: 38238318 PMCID: PMC10796432 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44668-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, levels of seasonal influenza virus circulation were unprecedentedly low, leading to concerns that a lack of exposure to influenza viruses, combined with waning antibody titres, could result in larger and/or more severe post-pandemic seasonal influenza epidemics. However, in most countries the first post-pandemic influenza season was not unusually large and/or severe. Here, based on an analysis of historical influenza virus epidemic patterns from 2002 to 2019, we show that historic lulls in influenza virus circulation had relatively minor impacts on subsequent epidemic size and that epidemic size was more substantially impacted by season-specific effects unrelated to the magnitude of circulation in prior seasons. From measurements of antibody levels from serum samples collected each year from 2017 to 2021, we show that the rate of waning of antibody titres against influenza virus during the pandemic was smaller than assumed in predictive models. Taken together, these results partially explain why the re-emergence of seasonal influenza virus epidemics was less dramatic than anticipated and suggest that influenza virus epidemic dynamics are not currently amenable to multi-season prediction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simon P J de Jong
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Zandra C Felix Garza
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joseph C Gibson
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah van Leeuwen
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert P de Vries
- Department of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Geert-Jan Boons
- Department of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Chemistry, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Marliek van Hoesel
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Karen de Haan
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Laura E van Groeningen
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Katina D Hulme
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hugo D G van Willigen
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Elke Wynberg
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Public Health Service of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Godelieve J de Bree
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Amy Matser
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Public Health Service of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Margreet Bakker
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lia van der Hoek
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Prins
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Public Health Service of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Neeltje A Kootstra
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dirk Eggink
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Brooke E Nichols
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alvin X Han
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Menno D de Jong
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Colin A Russell
- Department of Medical Microbiology & Infection Prevention, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
- Department of Global Health, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Grech AK, Foo CT, Paul E, Aung AK, Yu C. Epidemiological trends of respiratory tract pathogens detected via mPCR in Australian adult patients before COVID-19. BMC Infect Dis 2024; 24:38. [PMID: 38166699 PMCID: PMC10763466 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-023-08750-7] [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: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are a major global health burden due to their high morbidity and mortality. This retrospective study described the epidemiology of respiratory pathogens in adults over a 5-year period at an Australian tertiary healthcare network. METHODS All multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction respiratory samples taken between the 1st of November 2014 and the 31st of October 2019 were included in this study. Overall prevalence and variations according to seasons, age groups and sex were analysed, as well as factors associated with prolonged hospital and intensive care length of stay. RESULTS There were 12,453 pathogens detected amongst the 12,185 positive samples, with coinfection rates of 3.7%. Picornavirus (Rhinovirus), Influenza A and respiratory syncytial virus were the most commonly detected pathogens. Mycoplasma pneumoniae was the most commonly detected atypical bacteria. Significant differences in the prevalence of Chlamydia pneumoniae and Human metapneumovirus infections were found between sexes. Longest median length of intensive care and hospital stay was for Legionella species. Seasonal variations were evident for certain pathogens. CONCLUSIONS The high rates of pathogen detection and hospitalisation in this real-world study highlights the significant burden of RTIs, and the urgent need for an improved understanding of the pathogenicity as well as preventative and treatment options of RTIs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Audrey K Grech
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Alfred Health, 55 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia
| | - Chuan T Foo
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Eastern Health, Melbourne, Australia
- Monash Lung and Sleep, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Eldho Paul
- ANZIC-RC, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Ar K Aung
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
- Department of General Medicine, Alfred Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Christiaan Yu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Alfred Health, 55 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
- Monash Lung and Sleep, Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia.
- Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Moa A, Kunasekaran M, Akhtar Z, Costantino V, MacIntyre CR. Systematic review of influenza vaccine effectiveness against laboratory-confirmed influenza among older adults living in aged care facilities. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2023; 19:2271304. [PMID: 37929779 PMCID: PMC10629430 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2023.2271304] [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: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
We estimated the effectiveness of influenza vaccines in preventing laboratory-confirmed influenza among older adults in aged care. Electronic database searches were conducted using search terms, and studies were selected as per the selection criteria. Fourteen studies were included for final review. The studies exhibited considerable variation in reported vaccine effectiveness (VE) across different seasons. Among the observational studies, VE ranged from 7.2% to 89.8% against laboratory-confirmed influenza across different vaccines. Randomized clinical trials demonstrated a 17% reduction in infection rates with the adjuvanted trivalent vaccine. The limitations include the small number of included studies conducted in different countries or regions, varied seasons, variations in diagnostic testing methods, a focus on the A/H3N2 strain, and few studies available on the effectiveness of enhanced influenza vaccines in aged care settings. Despite challenges associated with achieving optimal protection, the studies showed the benefits of influenza vaccination in the elderly residents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aye Moa
- Biosecurity Program, The Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Mohana Kunasekaran
- Biosecurity Program, The Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Zubair Akhtar
- Biosecurity Program, The Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Valentina Costantino
- Biosecurity Program, The Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - C. Raina MacIntyre
- Biosecurity Program, The Kirby Institute, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- College of Public Service and Community Solutions, Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Oweidat KA, Toubasi AA, Alghrabli A, Khater Y, Saleh N, Albtoosh AS, Batarseh RS. Alterations in Patients' Clinical Outcomes and Respiratory Viral Pathogen Activity following the COVID-19 Pandemic. Viruses 2023; 15:1975. [PMID: 37896754 PMCID: PMC10611370 DOI: 10.3390/v15101975] [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: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Before the COVID-19 pandemic, respiratory pathogens such as influenza, parainfluenza, and respiratory syncytial virus were the most commonly detected viruses among hospitalized patients with respiratory tract infections. METHODS This was a retrospective observational study of inpatients and outpatients who attended Jordan University Hospital and underwent Nasopharyngeal Aspiration (NPA) in the periods from December 2017 to December 2018 and from December 2021 to December 2022. The results of multiplex respiratory pathogen real-time PCR tests for nasopharyngeal swab specimens were extracted from the electronic-based molecular diagnostic laboratory record of JUH. We compared the prevalence of the detected viruses as well as the patients' characteristics and outcomes between the two periods. RESULTS The total number of included patients was 695. Our analysis showed that a higher percentage of patients with hypertension and diabetes presented before the pandemic compared to the same period after it (p-value < 0.001). The need for O2 devices, white blood cell counts, diastolic blood pressure, and the length of hospital stay were significantly higher among patients who presented before the pandemic (p-value < 0.050). Influenza H1N1 (8.70% vs. 4.03%), influenza B (1.67% vs. 0.25%), parainfluenza (1.00% vs. 0.00%), human metapneumovirus (5.35% vs. 0.76%), adenoviruses (6.35% vs. 3.02%), and coronaviruses (8.70% vs. 3.53%) were detected with higher frequency in the period before the pandemic (p-value = 0.011, 0.045, 0.045, 0.000, 0.035, 0.004). These results were similar in terms of changes in the detection rates of viruses after matching the number of tested patients between the periods before and after the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS We have demonstrated a reduction in the detection of several viruses, which might be due to the increase in public awareness toward infection protection measures after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Khaled Al Oweidat
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (K.A.O.); (N.S.); (A.S.A.)
| | - Ahmad A. Toubasi
- Faculty of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Ahmad Alghrabli
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (A.A.); (Y.K.)
| | - Yasmeen Khater
- Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (A.A.); (Y.K.)
| | - Noor Saleh
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (K.A.O.); (N.S.); (A.S.A.)
| | - Asma S. Albtoosh
- Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan; (K.A.O.); (N.S.); (A.S.A.)
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Gómez-Pérez GP, de Groot R, Abajobir AA, Wainaina CW, Rinke de Wit TF, Sidze E, Pradhan M, Janssens W. Reduced incidence of respiratory, gastrointestinal and malaria infections among children during the COVID-19 pandemic in Western Kenya: An analysis of facility-based and weekly diaries data. J Glob Health 2023; 13:06024. [PMID: 37448326 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.13.06024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Epidemics can cause significant disruptions of essential health care services. This was evident in West-Africa during the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak, raising concerns that COVID-19 would have similar devastating consequences for the continent. Indeed, official facility-based records show a reduction in health care visits after the onset of COVID-19 in Kenya. Our question is whether this observed reduction was caused by lower access to health care or by reduced incidence of communicable diseases resulting from reduced mobility and social contacts. Methods We analysed monthly facility-based data from 2018 to 2020, and weekly health diaries data digitally collected by trained fieldworkers between February and November 2020 from 342 households, including 1974 individuals, in Kisumu and Kakamega Counties, Kenya. Diaries data was collected as part of an ongoing longitudinal study of a digital health insurance scheme (Kakamega), and universal health coverage implementation (Kisumu). We assessed the weekly incidence of self-reported medical symptoms, formal and informal health-seeking behaviour, and foregone care in the diaries and compared it with facility-based records. Linear probability regressions with household fixed-effects were performed to compare the weekly incidence of health outcomes before and after COVID-19. Results Facility-based data showed a decrease in health care utilization for respiratory infections, enteric illnesses, and malaria, after start of COVID-19 measures in Kenya in March 2020. The weekly diaries confirmed this decrease in respiratory and enteric symptoms, and malaria / fever, mainly in the paediatric population. In terms of health care seeking behaviour, our diaries data find a temporary shift in consultations from health care centres to pharmacists / chemists / medicine vendors for a few weeks during the pandemic, but no increase in foregone care. According to the diaries, for adults the incidence of communicable diseases/symptoms rebounded after COVID-19 mobility restrictions were lifted, while for children the effects persisted. Conclusions COVID-19-related containment measures in Western Kenya were accompanied by a decline in respiratory infections, enteric illnesses, and malaria / fever mainly in children. Data from a population-based survey and facility-based records aligned regarding this finding despite the temporary shift to non-facility-based consultations and confirmed that the drop in utilization of health care services was not due to decreased accessibility, but rather to a lower incidence of these infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gloria P Gómez-Pérez
- Amsterdam Institute of Global Health and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- PharmAccess Foundation, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Richard de Groot
- Amsterdam Institute of Global Health and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | - Caroline W Wainaina
- African Population and Health Research Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
- Universiteit Utrecht, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tobias F Rinke de Wit
- Amsterdam Institute of Global Health and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- PharmAccess Foundation, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Estelle Sidze
- African Population and Health Research Centre, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Menno Pradhan
- Amsterdam Institute of Global Health and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Universiteit van Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Wendy Janssens
- Amsterdam Institute of Global Health and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Yi S, Zhang WX, Zhou YG, Wang XR, Du J, Hu XW, Lu QB. Epidemiological change of influenza virus in hospitalized children with acute respiratory tract infection during 2014-2022 in Hubei Province, China. Virol J 2023; 20:122. [PMID: 37312198 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-02092-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Influenza virus (IFV) causes acute respiratory tract infection (ARTI) and leads to high morbidity and mortality annually. This study explored the epidemiological change of IFV after the implementation of the universal two-child policy and evaluated the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the detection of IFV. METHODS Hospitalized children under 18 years with ARTI were recruited from Hubei Maternal and Child Healthcare Hospital of Hubei Province from January 2014 to June 2022. The positive rates of IFV were compared among different periods by the implementation of the universal two-child policy and public health measures against COVID-19 pandemic. RESULTS Among 75,128 hospitalized children with ARTI, the positive rate of IFV was 1.98% (1486/75128, 95% CI 1.88-2.01). Children aged 6-17 years had the highest positive rate of IFV (166/5504, 3.02%, 95% CI 2.58-3.50). The positive rate of IFV dropped to the lowest in 2015, then increased constantly and peaked in 2019. After the universal two-child policy implementation, the positive rate of IFV among all the hospitalized children increased from 0.40% during 2014-2015 to 2.70% during 2017-2019 (RR 6.72, 95% CI 4.94-9.13, P < 0.001), particularly children under one year shown a violent increasing trend from 0.20 to 2.01% (RR 10.26, 95% CI 5.47-19.23, P < 0.001). During the initial outbreak of COVID-19, the positive rate of IFV decreased sharply compared to that before COVID-19 (0.35% vs. 3.37%, RR 0.10, 95% CI 0.04-0.28, P < 0.001), and then rebounded to 0.91%, lower than the level before COVID-19 (RR 0.26, 95% CI 0.20-0.36, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION IFV epidemiological pattern has changed after the implementation of the universal two-child policy. More attention should be emphasized to comprehend the health benefits generated by COVID-19 restrictions on IFV transmission in future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Song Yi
- Department of Medical Genetic Center, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China
| | - Wan-Xue Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-Guo Zhou
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Xin-Rui Wang
- Department of Laboratorial Science and Technology and Vaccine Research Center,, School of Public Health, Peking University, 38th Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Juan Du
- Global Center for Infectious Disease and Policy Research and Global Health and Infectious Diseases Group, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Xing-Wen Hu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, 745th Wuluo Road, Hongshan District, Wuhan, 430070, People's Republic of China.
| | - Qing-Bin Lu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China.
- Department of Laboratorial Science and Technology and Vaccine Research Center,, School of Public Health, Peking University, 38th Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China.
- Global Center for Infectious Disease and Policy Research and Global Health and Infectious Diseases Group, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Epidemiology of Major Diseases (Peking University), Ministry of Education, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Lei H, Yang L, Yang M, Tang J, Yang J, Tan M, Yang S, Wang D, Shu Y. Quantifying the rebound of influenza epidemics after the adjustment of zero-COVID policy in China. PNAS NEXUS 2023; 2:pgad152. [PMID: 37215632 PMCID: PMC10194088 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The coexistence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and seasonal influenza epidemics has become a potential threat to human health, particularly in China in the oncoming season. However, with the relaxation of nonpharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) during the COVID-19 pandemic, the rebound extent of the influenza activities is still poorly understood. In this study, we constructed a susceptible-vaccinated-infectious-recovered-susceptible (SVIRS) model to simulate influenza transmission and calibrated it using influenza surveillance data from 2018 to 2022. We projected the influenza transmission over the next 3 years using the SVIRS model. We observed that, in epidemiological year 2021-2022, the reproduction numbers of influenza in southern and northern China were reduced by 64.0 and 34.5%, respectively, compared with those before the pandemic. The percentage of people susceptible to influenza virus increased by 138.6 and 57.3% in southern and northern China by October 1, 2022, respectively. After relaxing NPIs, the potential accumulation of susceptibility to influenza infection may lead to a large-scale influenza outbreak in the year 2022-2023, the scale of which may be affected by the intensity of the NPIs. And later relaxation of NPIs in the year 2023 would not lead to much larger rebound of influenza activities in the year 2023-2024. To control the influenza epidemic to the prepandemic level after relaxing NPIs, the influenza vaccination rates in southern and northern China should increase to 53.8 and 33.8%, respectively. Vaccination for influenza should be advocated to reduce the potential reemergence of the influenza epidemic in the next few years.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hao Lei
- School of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, P.R. China
| | - Lei Yang
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health Commission, Beijing 102206, P.R. China
| | - Mengya Yang
- School of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, P.R. China
| | - Jing Tang
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health Commission, Beijing 102206, P.R. China
| | - Jiaying Yang
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health Commission, Beijing 102206, P.R. China
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, P.R. China
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, P.R. China
| | - Minju Tan
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health Commission, Beijing 102206, P.R. China
| | - Shigui Yang
- School of Public Health, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310058, P.R. China
| | - Dayan Wang
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory for Medical Virology, National Health Commission, Beijing 102206, P.R. China
| | - Yuelong Shu
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, P.R. China
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen 518107, P.R. China
- Institute of Pathogen Biology, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Lai CC, Lee PI, Hsueh PR. How Taiwan has responded to COVID-19 and how COVID-19 has affected Taiwan, 2020-2022. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY, AND INFECTION = WEI MIAN YU GAN RAN ZA ZHI 2023:S1684-1182(23)00078-6. [PMID: 37061349 PMCID: PMC10079311 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2023.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
From January 2020 to December 2022, there was a total of 8,872,955 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Taiwan. In addition, a total of 15,253 COVID-19 related deaths were reported. During these three years, the government and health authority did many efforts to response this pandemic. In the early pandemic, Taiwan Central Epidemic Command Center was established in the early 2020 to organize associated resource, develop effective policy and implement strict intervention. In response to COVID-19 pandemic, many infection control policy and interventions, including universal mask wearing with increasing production of face mask, hand hygiene, border control, introduce of digital technology incorporating big data, quarantine of COVID-19 cases, travel and gathering restriction, were implemented. In the meanwhile, two COVID-19 vaccines, namely MVC-COV1901 and UB-612, have been developed under the support of government. Furthermore, MVC-COV1901 was taken into clinical practice after received emergency use approval. In addition, two traditional Chinese medicines, including NRICM101 and NRICM102 showed their promising effect against SARS-CoV-2 infection and were recommended as potential therapeutic options for COVID-19. During the pandemic, the nonpharmacologic intervention help reduce many infectious diseases, especially for airborne/droplet-transmitted diseases. However, COVID-19 exhibited some adverse impacts on the healthcare systems, such as emergency medical service on out of hospital cardiac arrest, cancer screening, HIV screening and prevention services, and public health, namely the psychosocial status of healthcare workers. Although the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infections may gradually subsided, we should keep monitoring its associated impact and appropriately response to this pandemic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Cheng Lai
- Division of Hospital Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan; School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Ping-Ing Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, National Taiwan University Children's Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Po-Ren Hsueh
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Department of Laboratory Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; PhD Program for Ageing, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Impact of the early phase of COVID-19 on the trends of isolated bacteria in the national database of Japan: an interrupted time-series analysis. J Infect 2023; 86:147-153. [PMID: 36463984 PMCID: PMC9715262 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2022.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, a change in the trend of infections was observed. However, there are few reports comprehensively assessing the impact of the early phase of COVID-19 on the trend of bacteria isolated. METHODS We extracted the number of positive cultures of hospitalized patients for approximately 200 institutions using the Japanese national database. The outcome was the ratio of 10 species isolated in comparison to the total isolates for each month. Interrupted time-series analyses were conducted between 13 (from Jan-2019 to Jan-2020) and 8 (from May-2020 to Dec-2020) monthly data points. RESULTS A total of 369,210 isolates were involved. Differences in the level change for Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, and Streptococcus pyogenes decreased significantly by 0.272 (95% confidence interval [CI]:0.192-0.352), 0.244 (95%CI:0.174-0.314), and 0.324 (95%CI:0.06-0.589), respectively. Bacteria transmitted by contact infection, such as Staphylococcus aureus, did not decrease. Differences in slope change were not significant in all species. CONCLUSIONS The ratios of isolated bacteria transmitted by droplet infection decreased immediately after the early phase of COVID-19 and maintained the same level. The awareness and behavioral changes toward increased COVID-19 prevention might have a substantial impact on the prevention of bacterial infections, especially droplet infections.
Collapse
|
13
|
Shatizadeh Malekshahi S, Farahmand M, Choobin H. SARS-CoV-2 Related Viral Respiratory Co-Infections: A Narrative Review. TANAFFOS 2023; 22:19-26. [PMID: 37920316 PMCID: PMC10618585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Background Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the new coronavirus originating from Wuhan, China, responsible for the illness known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Early experience and the recent literature have shown that co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 with another respiratory virus might occur. Similar symptoms of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) and COVID-19 represent a challenge for diagnostic and therapeutic efficacy and may modify COVID-19 outcomes. Materials and Methods We reviewed the literature on the epidemic pattern and major learning points on important aspects of SARS-CoV-2-related viral respiratory co-infections during the COVID-19 pandemic. Databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were used to conduct a comprehensive search. Results The circulation of respiratory viruses changed as the COVID-19 epidemic continues. Phenomena like viral interference, resource competition, and differences in virus-host range might explain why simultaneous viral respiratory infections have seemed to vanish with the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion Key research to be conducted during this pandemic should include the simultaneous screening of other respiratory pathogens with many available commercial platforms for transmission containment and appropriate clinical management.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mohammad Farahmand
- Research Center for Emergency and Disaster Resilience, Red Crescent Society of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamzeh Choobin
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Impact of national COVID-19 restrictions on incidence of notifiable communicable diseases in England: an interrupted time series analysis. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2318. [PMID: 36510205 PMCID: PMC9742638 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14796-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as travel restrictions, social distancing and isolation policies, aimed at controlling the spread of COVID-19 may have reduced transmission of other endemic communicable diseases, such as measles, mumps and meningitis in England. METHODS An interrupted time series analysis was conducted to examine whether NPIs was associated with trends in endemic communicable diseases, using weekly reported cases of seven notifiable communicable diseases (food poisoning, measles, meningitis, mumps, scarlet fever and pertussis) between 02/01/2017 to 02/01/2021 for England. RESULTS Following the introduction of COVID-19 restrictions, there was an 81.1% (95% CI; 77.2-84.4) adjusted percentage reduction in the total number of notifiable diseases recorded per week in England. The greatest decrease was observed for measles, with a 90.5% percentage reduction (95% CI; 86.8-93.1) from 42 to 5 cases per week. The smallest decrease was observed for food poisoning, with a 56.4% (95%CI; 42.5-54.2) decrease from 191 to 83 cases per week. CONCLUSIONS A total reduction in the incidence of endemic notifiable diseases was observed in England following the implementation of public health measures aimed at reducing transmission of SARS-COV-2 on March 23, 2020. The greatest reductions were observed in diseases most frequently observed during childhood that are transmitted via close human-to-human contact, such as measles and pertussis. A less substantive reduction was observed in reported cases of food poisoning, likely due to dining services (i.e., home deliveries and takeaways) remaining open and providing a potential route of transmission. This study provides further evidence of the effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical public health interventions in reducing the transmission of both respiratory and food-borne communicable diseases.
Collapse
|
15
|
Sim JY, Chen YC, Hsu WY, Chen WY, Chou Y, Chow JC, Lai YC, Tang HJ, Chen CC, Ho CH, Chang TH. Circulating pediatric respiratory pathogens in Taiwan during 2020: Dynamic change under low COVID-19 incidence. JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY, IMMUNOLOGY, AND INFECTION = WEI MIAN YU GAN RAN ZA ZHI 2022; 55:1151-1158. [PMID: 35450828 PMCID: PMC9767794 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmii.2022.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Taiwan, there were only 799 confirmed COVID-19 cases in 2020. The unique backdrop amidst a pandemic and promotion of nonpharmaceutical interventions generated some distinct changes in the epidemiology of common respiratory pathogens. In this study, we aimed to investigate the dynamic changes in respiratory pathogens in children during 2020. METHODS We performed a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary hospital in southern Taiwan during 2020. Patients aged 0-18 years who visited the pediatric emergency department were enrolled. Children who presented with clinical symptoms (fever or respiratory illness) and received nasopharyngeal swabs for multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were included in our analysis. We also compared respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) trends from previous years by PCR and lateral flow immunochromatographic assays from 2017 to 2020. RESULTS A total of 120 children were tested. The overall detection rate was 55%. With strengthened restrictions, the detection rate dropped from 70% to 30%. However, non-enveloped viruses (rhinovirus/enterovirus and adenovirus) were in constant circulation. Upon easing prevention measures, the detection rate remained above 60%, and an outbreak of an enveloped virus (RSV and parainfluenza virus) was noted. Compared with 2017-2019, the cyclical RSV epidemic was delayed, with a large surge in late 2020. CONCLUSIONS We observed a constant circulation of non-enveloped viruses when strict nonpharmaceutical interventions were employed and a delayed surge of enveloped viruses during the easing of restrictions. Continuous surveillance and monitoring of the evolutionary dynamics of respiratory viruses is important, while easing restrictions requires balanced judgment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Yi Sim
- Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chin Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Chiali, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Yun Hsu
- Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Yu Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yun Chou
- Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Julie Chi Chow
- Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Ching Lai
- Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Jen Tang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Chi-Chung Chen
- Department of Medical Research, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan,Department of Food Science, National Chiayi University, Chiayi, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Han Ho
- Department of Medical Research, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan,Department of Information Management, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Tu-Hsuan Chang
- Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan,Corresponding author. Department of Pediatrics, Chi Mei Medical Center No.901, Zhonghua Rd., Yongkang Dist., Tainan City, 710, Taiwan. Fax: +886 6 220 370
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Baldanti F, Ganguly NK, Wang G, Möckel M, O’Neill LA, Renz H, dos Santos Ferreira CE, Tateda K, Van Der Pol B. Choice of SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic test: challenges and key considerations for the future. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2022; 59:445-459. [PMID: 35289222 PMCID: PMC8935452 DOI: 10.1080/10408363.2022.2045250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
A plethora of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) diagnostic tests are available, each with different performance specifications, detection methods, and targets. This narrative review aims to summarize the diagnostic technologies available and how they are best selected to tackle SARS-CoV-2 infection as the pandemic evolves. Seven key settings have been identified where diagnostic tests are being deployed: symptomatic individuals presenting for diagnostic testing and/or treatment of COVID-19 symptoms; asymptomatic individuals accessing healthcare for planned non-COVID-19-related reasons; patients needing to access emergency care (symptom status unknown); patients being discharged from healthcare following hospitalization for COVID-19; healthy individuals in both single event settings (e.g. airports, restaurants, hotels, concerts, and sporting events) and repeat access settings (e.g. workplaces, schools, and universities); and vaccinated individuals. While molecular diagnostics remain central to SARS-CoV-2 testing strategies, we have offered some discussion on the considerations for when other tools and technologies may be useful, when centralized/point-of-care testing is appropriate, and how the various additional diagnostics can be deployed in differently resourced settings. As the pandemic evolves, molecular testing remains important for definitive diagnosis, but increasingly widespread point-of-care testing is essential to the re-opening of society.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fausto Baldanti
- Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | - Guiqiang Wang
- The Center for Liver Diseases, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Martin Möckel
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany,CONTACT Martin Möckel Departments of Emergency Medicine and Chest Pain Units CVK/CCM, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Augustenburger Platz 1, Berlin, 13353, Germany
| | - Luke A. O’Neill
- Trinity Biomedical Sciences Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Harald Renz
- Institute of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Molecular Diagnostics, Philipps University Marburg, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg GmbH, Giessen, Germany,Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergology, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia
| | | | - Kazuhiro Tateda
- Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Toho University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Barbara Van Der Pol
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Shen DP, Vermeulen F, Debeer A, Lagrou K, Smits A. Impact of COVID-19 on viral respiratory infection epidemiology in young children: A single-center analysis. Front Public Health 2022; 10:931242. [PMID: 36203684 PMCID: PMC9530989 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.931242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic impacts different health aspects. Concomitant with the adoption of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to reduce the spread of SARS-CoV-2, global surveillance studies reported a reduction in occurrence of respiratory pathogens like influenza A and B virus (IAV & IBV) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). We hypothesized to observe this collateral benefit on viral respiratory infection epidemiology in young children. Methods Respiratory samples of children aged below 6 years, presenting at the outpatient clinic, emergency department, or pediatric infectious diseases department of the University Hospitals Leuven, between April 2017 and April 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. The occurrence (positivity rate), and seasonal patterns of viral respiratory infections were described. Chi-squared or Fisher's exact test (and Bonferroni correction) were used to explore differences in occurrence between 2020-2021 and previous 12-month (April to April) periods. Results We included 3020 samples (453 respiratory panels, 2567 single SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests). IAV and IBV were not detected from March and January 2020, respectively. For IAV, positivity rate in 2020-2021 (0%, n = 0) was significantly different from 2018-2019 (12.4%, n = 17) (p < 0.001) and 2019-2020 (15.4%, n = 19) (p < 0.001). IBV positivity rate in 2020-2021 (0%, n = 0) was not significantly different from previous periods. RSV occurrence was significantly lower in 2020-2021 (3.2%, n = 3), compared to 2017-2018 (15.0%, n = 15) (p = 0.006), 2018-2019 (16.1%, n = 22) (p = 0.002) and 2019-2020 (22.8%, n = 28) (p < 0.001). The RSV (winter) peak was absent and presented later (March-April 2021). Positivity rate of parainfluenza virus 3 (PIV-3) was significantly higher in 2020-2021 (11.8%, n = 11) than 2017-2018 (1%, n = 1) (p = 0.002). PIV-3 was absent from April 2020 to January 2021, whereas no clear seasonal pattern was distinguished the other years. For the other viruses tested, no significant differences in occurrence were observed between 2020-2021 and previous periods. From March 2020 onwards, 20 cases (0.7%) of SARS-CoV-2 were identified. Conclusion These findings reinforce the hypothesis of NPIs impacting the epidemiology of influenza viruses and RSV in young children. Compared to previous periods, no IAV and IBV cases were observed in the 2020-2021 study period, and the RSV peak occurred later. Since the pandemic is still ongoing, continuation of epidemiological surveillance, even on a larger scale, is indicated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - François Vermeulen
- Department of Pediatrics, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium,Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anne Debeer
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium,Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Katrien Lagrou
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and National Reference Centre for Respiratory Pathogens, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anne Smits
- Department of Development and Regeneration, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium,Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium,L-C&Y, KU Leuven Child & Youth Institute, Leuven, Belgium,*Correspondence: Anne Smits
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Bhardwaj S, Choudhary ML, Jadhav S, Vipat V, Ghuge R, Salvi S, Kulkarni R, Kinikar A, Padbidri V, Bafna S, Bavdekare A, D'costa P, Gujar N, Potdar V. A retrospective analysis of respiratory virus transmission before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Pune the western region of India. Front Public Health 2022; 10:936634. [PMID: 36159243 PMCID: PMC9494283 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.936634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Background SARS-CoV-2 was first reported in China in December 2019 and quickly spread across the world. Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are the key to control the transmission of respiratory viruses. To stop the spread, NPI is widely recommended and is still followed by most countries. Methods At the National Influenza Center of the Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute of Virology (ICMR-NIV), the surveillance of severe acute respiratory illness and acute respiratory illness cases for influenza and other respiratory viruses is in place. In this study, we analyzed surveillance data on respiratory viruses and/or SARS-CoV-2 testing from January 2017 to December 2021. Multiplex real-time PCR was used to detect the respiratory viruses. Results Our findings indicate that during the pandemic, the positivity for influenza A and B, metapneumovirus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and human coronavirus declined significantly. Conclusion The annual distinct seasonal outbreaks of influenza, RSV, and other respiratory viruses as observed during the pre-COVID-19 period were not observed during the COVID-19 pandemic in years 2020 and 21. Social distancing, lock-downs, and non-pharmaceutical interventions may play an important role in the reduction of respiratory viruses. Understanding the seasonal respiratory virus decline could help public health experts prepare for future respiratory virus pandemics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sumit Bhardwaj
- Influenza, National Institute of Virology (ICMR), Pune, India
| | | | - Sheetal Jadhav
- Influenza, National Institute of Virology (ICMR), Pune, India
| | - Veena Vipat
- Influenza, National Institute of Virology (ICMR), Pune, India
| | - Rohan Ghuge
- Influenza, National Institute of Virology (ICMR), Pune, India
| | - Sonali Salvi
- B. J. Medical College and Sassoon Hospital, Pune, India
| | | | - Aarti Kinikar
- B. J. Medical College and Sassoon Hospital, Pune, India
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Varsha Potdar
- Influenza, National Institute of Virology (ICMR), Pune, India,*Correspondence: Varsha Potdar
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Youssef D, Issa O, Kanso M, Youssef J, Abou-Abbas L, Abboud E. Practice of non-pharmaceutical interventions against COVID-19 and reduction of the risk of influenza-like illness: a cross-sectional population-based study. J Pharm Policy Pract 2022; 15:54. [PMID: 36042506 PMCID: PMC9424835 DOI: 10.1186/s40545-022-00450-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction While the widespread implementation of the non-pharmaceutical interventions was intended to contain the COVID-19 pandemic, such measures could be also effective in limiting the spread of other respiratory infections. This study aimed to examine the association between the implementation of personal protective measures and the occurrence of influenza-like illnesses (ILI) in the general population. Methods An online retrospective cross-sectional observational study was conducted in April 2021 to assess cases of ILI among Lebanese adults aged 18 years and above, from all Lebanese governorates during the 2020–2021 flu season. Data were collected using a convenience sampling method. In addition to their socio-demographic information, participants were asked about their frequency of implementing personal protective measures and if they have experienced symptoms of ILI in the previous 6 months. The overall score of the personal protective measures was computed. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to examine the association between participants’ level of adoption of personal protective measures against COVID-19 and the occurrence of ILI. Results Among the 1019 Lebanese adults participating in this study, 352 (34.54%) of them reported symptoms of ILI between October 2020 and March 2021. Lebanese adults who wore their facemasks frequently or always were less likely to suffer from symptoms of ILI than others who did not wear the mask (aOR = 0.452, 95% CI = 0.349–0.693, p < 0.001). Similarly, adults who adopt the following protective measures washing hands (aOR = 0.608, 95% CI = 0.524–0.922, p < 0.001), respecting cough etiquette (aOR = 0.763, 95% CI = 0.598–0.918, p < 0.001), disinfecting surface (aOR = 0.892, 95% CI = 0.632–0.911, p = 0.012), avoiding crowded places (aOR = 0.739, 95% CI = 0.688–0.903, p = 0.049), respecting physical distancing (aOR = 0.646, 95% CI = 0.482–0.833, p = 0.031) on a regular basis (frequently/always) were less likely to report symptoms of influenza-like illnesses when compared with those who did not adhere at all to these measures. Conclusion Our study highlighted the potential of personal protective measures against COVID-19 in reducing the transmission of respiratory infections such as ILI. Such findings might be invested during influenza season, particularly among groups at high risk of developing severe complications. Exploring trends detected by the national severe acute respiratory infection surveillance system is recommended to confirm the utility of these measures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dalal Youssef
- Research Center Bordeaux Population Health, Institut de Santé Publique, d'épidémiologie et de Développement (ISPED), Bordeaux University, Bordeaux, France. .,Clinical Trial Program, Ministry of Public Health, Beirut, Lebanon. .,Preventive Medicine Department, Ministry of Public Health, Beirut, Lebanon.
| | - Ola Issa
- Ministry of Public Health, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | - Janet Youssef
- Al Zahraa Hospital University Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon
| | - Linda Abou-Abbas
- Neurosciences Research Center, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Lebanese University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Maita H, Kobayashi T, Akimoto T, Matsuoka F, Funakoshi S, Osawa H, Kato H. Clinical diagnosis of seasonal influenza by physicians: a retrospective observational study. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e055910. [PMID: 35868823 PMCID: PMC9315920 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-055910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To elucidate the diagnostic accuracy of pretest probability of influenza (%) by physicians and the factors affecting the clinical diagnosis. DESIGN Retrospective, single-centre observational study. SETTING A community primary care clinic in Japan. PARTICIPANTS The participants were recruited from a database of studies conducted during the influenza season from December 2017 to April 2019. PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURE Sensitivity and specificity of the physician's clinical diagnosis of influenza recorded in the medical record as pretest probability. RESULTS A total of 335 patients (median age, 31 years; male, 66.6%) were analysed in this study. The area under the curve (AUC) of the physician's pretest probability was 0.77. At a cut-off value of 30%, the sensitivity and negative likelihood ratio were 92.0% (95% CI 86.7 to 95.7) and 0.19 (95% CI 0.11 to 0.33), respectively. At a cut-off value of 80%, the specificity and positive likelihood ratio were 90.8% (95% CI 85.4 to 94.6) and 4.01 (95% CI 2.41 to 6.66), respectively. The AUCs of patients who had and had not taken any medications before visiting the clinic were 0.77 (95% CI 0.69 to 0.85) and 0.78 (95% CI 0.71 to 0.84), respectively. The AUCs of patients with type A and B influenza were 0.78 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.84) and 0.76 (95% CI 0.70 to 0.82), respectively. The AUCs of vaccinated and unvaccinated patients were 0.80 (95% CI 0.72 to 0.88) and 0.76 (95% CI 0.63 to 0.89), respectively. The AUC for patients less than 12 hours after onset was 0.69 (95% CI 0.51 to 0.88), and that for patients aged younger than 6 years was 0.69 (95% CI 0.49 to 0.88). CONCLUSIONS The physician's pretest probability of influenza (%) may be useful for both definitive and exclusionary diagnoses within the limits of our study.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hiroki Maita
- Development of Community Healthcare, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Tadashi Kobayashi
- Department of General Medicine, Hirosaki University School of Medicine and Hospital, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Takashi Akimoto
- Department of General Medicine, Hirosaki University School of Medicine and Hospital, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Fumihiko Matsuoka
- Rokkasho Center for Community and Family Medicine, Rokkasho, Aomori, Japan
| | - Shigeki Funakoshi
- Rokkasho Center for Community and Family Medicine, Rokkasho, Aomori, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Osawa
- Department of General Medicine, Hirosaki University School of Medicine and Hospital, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Kato
- Development of Community Healthcare, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
- Department of General Medicine, Hirosaki University School of Medicine and Hospital, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
- General Medicine, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Aomori, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Jbari S, Lahmini W, Boussaa S, Bourrous M. Impact of Covid-19 pandemic on pediatric meningitis incidence in central Morocco. SCIENTIFIC AFRICAN 2022; 16:e01213. [PMID: 36248769 PMCID: PMC9548638 DOI: 10.1016/j.sciaf.2022.e01213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial meningitis is a diagnostic, therapeutic, and prophylactic emergency, particularly for children. In Morocco, meningitis remains a major public health challenge with lethality between 10% and 12% of cases. Our objective is to determine the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of pediatric meningitis in central Morocco. A retrospective epidemiological study was carried out in the Department of Pediatric Emergencies of the Mother and Child Hospital of Marrakech in Morocco. Data were collected from patient files of Meningitis cases reported during the confinement period in March, April, and May of 2019 and 2020 respectively. Then, data were analyzed using SPSS software. The results showed a notification of 72 cases of suspected meningitis between March 2019 and March 2020 with dominance of boys (up to 70%) and age range of 1 month to 2 years (up to 34%). We noted a decrease in the number of patients hospitalized for suspected meningitis during COVID-19 pandemic. The final diagnosis of suspected meningitis was confirmed for 20% of the cases during the containment period against only 2.38% before the pandemic. This difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Our investigations confirm the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence of bacterial meningitis of children in the study area, more investigations are needed to generalize and explain these results in Morocco.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Siham Jbari
- Infectious Disease Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cadi Ayyad University Marrakech, 40000, Morocco,Childhood Health and Development Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cadi Ayyad University Marrakech, 40000, Morocco
| | - Widad Lahmini
- Childhood Health and Development Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cadi Ayyad University Marrakech, 40000, Morocco
| | - Samia Boussaa
- ISPITS-Higher Institute of Nursing and Health Techniques, Ministry of Health and Social Protection, Rabat, 10000, Morocco,Corresponding author
| | - Mounir Bourrous
- Childhood Health and Development Research Laboratory, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cadi Ayyad University Marrakech, 40000, Morocco
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Aix ML, Petit P, Bicout DJ. Air pollution and health impacts during the COVID-19 lockdowns in Grenoble, France. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 303:119134. [PMID: 35283200 PMCID: PMC8908221 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
It is undeniable that exposure to outdoor air pollution impacts the health of populations and therefore constitutes a public health problem. Any actions or events causing variations in air quality have repercussions on populations' health. Faced with the worldwide COVID-19 health crisis that began at the end of 2019, the governments of several countries were forced, in the beginning of 2020, to put in place very strict containment measures that could have led to changes in air quality. While many works in the literature have studied the issue of changes in the levels of air pollutants during the confinements in different countries, very few have focused on the impact of these changes on health risks. In this work, we compare the 2020 period, which includes two lockdowns (March 16 - May 10 and a partial shutdown Oct. 30 - Dec. 15) to a reference period 2015-2019 to determine how these government-mandated lockdowns affected concentrations of NO2, O3, PM2.5, and PM10, and how that affected human health factors, including low birth weight, lung cancer, mortality, asthma, non-accidental mortality, respiratory, and cardiovascular illnesses. To this end, we structured 2020 into four periods, alternating phases of freedom and lockdowns characterized by a stringency index. For each period, we calculated (1) the differences in pollutant levels between 2020 and a reference period (2015-2019) at both background and traffic stations; and (2) the resulting variations in the epidemiological based relative risks of health outcomes. As a result, we found that relative changes in pollutant levels during the 2020 restriction period were as follows: NO2 (-32%), PM2.5 (-22%), PM10 (-15%), and O3 (+10.6%). The pollutants associated with the highest health risk reductions in 2020 were PM2.5 and NO2, while PM10 and O3 changes had almost no effect on health outcomes. Reductions in short-term risks were related to reductions in PM2.5 (-3.2% in child emergency room visits for asthma during the second lockdown) and NO2 (-1.5% in hospitalizations for respiratory causes). Long-term risk reductions related to PM2.5 were low birth weight (-8%), mortality (-3.3%), and lung cancer (-2%), and to NO2 for mortality (-0.96%). Overall, our findings indicate that the confinement period in 2020 resulted in a substantial improvement in air quality in the Grenoble area.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Laure Aix
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, UMR 5525, VetAgro Sup, Grenoble INP, TIMC, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Pascal Petit
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, UMR 5525, VetAgro Sup, Grenoble INP, TIMC, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Dominique J Bicout
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, UMR 5525, VetAgro Sup, Grenoble INP, TIMC, 38000, Grenoble, France.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Sun Y, Wang Q, Wang X, Wu S, Zhang Y, Pan Y, Zhang L, Duan W, Ma C, Yang P, Wei Z. Interruption of influenza transmission under public health emergency response for COVID-19 based on real-world data, Beijing, China. Jpn J Infect Dis 2022; 75:511-518. [PMID: 35650036 DOI: 10.7883/yoken.jjid.2021.786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
To estimate effect of COVID-19 control measures taken to mitigate community transmission in many regions, we analyzed data based on influenza surveillance system in Beijing from week 27th, 2014 to week 26th, 2020. We collected weekly number of influenza-like illness (ILI), weekly positive proportion of ILI and weekly ILI proportion in outpatients and the date of COVID-19 measures. We compared influenza activity indicators of season 2019/2020 with preceding five seasons and built two ARIMAX models to estimate the effective of COVID-19 measures which emergency response declared since 24th January 2020. Based on observed data, compared with preceding five influenza seasons, ILIs, positive proportion of ILI, and duration of influenza epidemic period in season 2019/2020 decreased from 13% to 54%, especially, the number of weeks from the peak to the end of influenza epidemic period, decreased from 12 to one. Based ARIMAX model forecasting, after natural decline considered, weekly ILIs decreased by 48.6% and weekly positive proportion dropped 15% in the second week after emergency response declared, and finally COVID-19 measures reduced 83%. We conclude public health emergency response can interrupt the transmission of influenza markedly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Sun
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), China.,Department of National Immunization Program, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, China
| | - Quanyi Wang
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), China
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- Office of Beijing Center for Global Health, Beijing Center for Diseases Prevention and Control (CDC), China
| | - Shuangsheng Wu
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), China
| | - Yang Pan
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), China
| | - Li Zhang
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), China
| | - Wei Duan
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), China
| | - Chuanna Ma
- Institute for Infectious Diseases and Endemic Diseases Prevention and Control, Beijing Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), China
| | - Peng Yang
- Office of Beijing Center for Global Health, Beijing Center for Diseases Prevention and Control (CDC), China.,School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, China
| | - Zaihua Wei
- School of Public Health, Capital Medical University, China.,Information Statistics Center, Beijing Center for Diseases Prevention and Control, China
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Lofgren E, Naumova EN, Gorski J, Naumov Y, Fefferman NH. How Drivers of Seasonality in Respiratory Infections May Impact Vaccine Strategy: A Case Study in How Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) May Help Us Solve One of Influenza's Biggest Challenges. Clin Infect Dis 2022; 75:S121-S129. [PMID: 35607766 PMCID: PMC9213832 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccines against seasonal infections like influenza offer a recurring testbed, encompassing challenges in design, implementation, and uptake to combat a both familiar and ever-shifting threat. One of the pervading mysteries of influenza epidemiology is what causes the distinctive seasonal outbreak pattern. Proposed theories each suggest different paths forward in being able to tailor precision vaccines and/or deploy them most effectively. One of the greatest challenges in contrasting and supporting these theories is, of course, that there is no means by which to actually test them. In this communication we revisit theories and explore how the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic might provide a unique opportunity to better understand the global circulation of respiratory infections. We discuss how vaccine strategies may be targeted and improved by both isolating drivers and understanding the immunological consequences of seasonality, and how these insights about influenza vaccines may generalize to vaccines for other seasonal respiratory infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Lofgren
- WSU Paul G. Allen School for Global Health Allen Center PO Box 647090 240 SE Ott Road Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Elena N. Naumova
- Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Jaharis Family Center for Biomedical and Nutrition Sciences Tufts University 150 Harrison Avenue Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Jack Gorski
- Blood Research Institute Versiti Milwaukee WI, 53226, USA
| | - Yuri Naumov
- Chief Science Officer Back Bay Group 10 Post Office Square – Suite 1300N Boston, MA 02109, USA
| | - Nina H. Fefferman
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis University of Tennessee 447 Hesler Biology Building Knoxville, TN, 37966, USA,Corresponding Author: Nina H. Fefferman
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Díez JM, Casals D, Romero C, Gajardo R. Medicinal IgG products (2020) show high infectivity neutralizing activity against seasonal influenza virus strains selected for future vaccines (2020-22). Open Forum Infect Dis 2022; 9:ofac216. [PMID: 35794931 PMCID: PMC9253882 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofac216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunoglobulin (Ig)G medicinal products manufactured in 2020 were tested for infectivity neutralization and hemagglutination inhibition against World Health Organization-selected influenza strains included in worldwide vaccines 2020–2022. The IgG batches (from US plasma) showed potent activity. Intravenous immunoglobulin could potentially add to therapies for serious influenza cases in immunocompromised patients. Further study is warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José María Díez
- Immunotherapies Unit, Bioscience Research & Development, Scientific Innovation Office, Grifols, Carrer Palou, 3 - Polígon Industrial Llevant 08150 Parets del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniel Casals
- Immunotherapies Unit, Bioscience Research & Development, Scientific Innovation Office, Grifols, Carrer Palou, 3 - Polígon Industrial Llevant 08150 Parets del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carolina Romero
- Immunotherapies Unit, Bioscience Research & Development, Scientific Innovation Office, Grifols, Carrer Palou, 3 - Polígon Industrial Llevant 08150 Parets del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rodrigo Gajardo
- Immunotherapies Unit, Bioscience Research & Development, Scientific Innovation Office, Grifols, Carrer Palou, 3 - Polígon Industrial Llevant 08150 Parets del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
van Deursen B, Hagenaars M, Meima A, van Asten L, Richardus JH, Fanoy E, Voeten H. A sharp decrease in reported non-COVID-19 notifiable infectious diseases during the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic in the Rotterdam region, the Netherlands: a descriptive study. BMC Infect Dis 2022; 22:208. [PMID: 35241001 PMCID: PMC8891737 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-022-07209-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Public Health Services in the Rotterdam region, the Netherlands, observed a substantial decrease of non-COVID-19 notifiable infectious diseases and institutional outbreaks during the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic. We describe this change from mid-March to mid-October 2020 by comparing with the pre-COVID-19 situation. Methods All cases of notifiable diseases and institutional outbreaks reported to the Public Health Services Rotterdam-Rijnmond between 1st January and mid-October 2020 were included. Seven-day moving averages and cumulative cases were plotted against time and compared to those of 2017–2019. Additionally, Google mobility transit data of the region were plotted, as proxy for social distancing. Results Respiratory, gastrointestinal, and travel-related notifiable diseases were reported 65% less often during the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic than in the same weeks in 2017–2019. Reports of institutional outbreaks were also lower after the initially imposed social distancing measures; however, the numbers rebounded when measures were partially lifted. Conclusions Interpersonal distancing and hygiene measures imposed nationally against COVID-19 were in place between mid-March and mid-October, which most likely reduced transmission of other infectious diseases, and may thus have resulted in lower notifications of infectious diseases and outbreaks. This phenomenon opens future study options considering the effect of local outbreak control measures on a wide range of non-COVID-19 diseases. Targeted, tailored, appropriate and acceptable hygiene and distancing measures, specifically for vulnerable groups and institutions, should be devised and their effect investigated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Margot Hagenaars
- Public Health Service Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Abraham Meima
- Public Health Service Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Liselotte van Asten
- Center for Epidemiology and Surveillance of Infectious Diseases, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Hendrik Richardus
- Public Health Service Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ewout Fanoy
- Public Health Service Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Helene Voeten
- Public Health Service Rotterdam-Rijnmond, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Center, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Kato K, Inoue E, Tanaka S, Kawamoto H. Increase in the incidence of acute inflammatory reactions to injectable fillers during COVID-19 era. J Cosmet Dermatol 2022; 21:1816-1821. [PMID: 35218285 PMCID: PMC9115292 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.14886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Background Acute inflammatory reactions (AIRs) are a rare complication following esthetic treatment with hyaluronic acid (HA) and/or human collagen fillers. However, a substantial increase in the frequency of AIRs was observed in the first author's clinic since May 2020. Aims To report AIR cases, we experienced and discuss potential underlying mechanisms. Methods This was a retrospective review of patients representing AIR symptoms following filler injection with HA or human collagen in our clinic. Results Although only one case of an AIR with an incidence rate of 0.01% was recorded following filler treatment between September 2008 and April 2020 in our clinic, we observed 14 AIR cases without anaphylaxis, with an incidence rate of 1.18% between May 2020 and June 2021, in line with the spreading of the new coronavirus pandemic. All cases were females aged 40–57 years, and the time of onset was within hours after filler injection. Three patients had been treated with HA fillers only, 2 with HA plus human collagen, and 9 with human collagen only. Most patients had been treated with these products in the past. Nine patients were treated with oral prednisolone. In all cases, symptoms resolved entirely within a week without sequelae. Conclusions The marked increase in AIRs coincided with the COVID‐19 pandemic. Possible explanations include immune system alterations caused by extensive changes in domestic and personal hygiene, prolonged and elevated stress levels, and subclinical COVID‐19 infection. Further studies may be warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Eiko Inoue
- Jyosui Dermatology Clinic, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Sakae Tanaka
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kawamoto
- Laboratory of Immunology, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Tang HJ, Lai CC, Chao CM. Changing Epidemiology of Respiratory Tract Infection during COVID-19 Pandemic. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11030315. [PMID: 35326778 PMCID: PMC8944752 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11030315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The outbreak of COVID-19 has significantly changed the epidemiology of respiratory tract infection in several ways. The implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) including universal masking, hand hygiene, and social distancing not only resulted in a decline in reported SARS-CoV-2 cases but also contributed to the decline in the non-COVID-19 respiratory tract infection-related hospital utilization. Moreover, it also led to the decreased incidence of previous commonly encountered respiratory pathogens, such as influenza and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Although antimicrobial agents are essential for treating patients with COVID-19 co-infection, the prescribing of antibiotics was significantly higher than the estimated prevalence of bacterial co-infection, which indicated the overuse of antibiotics or unnecessary antibiotic use during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, inappropriate antimicrobial exposure may drive the selection of drug-resistant microorganisms, and the disruption of infection control in COVID-19 setting measures may result in the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). In conclusion, NPIs could be effective in preventing respiratory tract infection and changing the microbiologic distribution of respiratory pathogens; however, we should continue with epidemiological surveillance to establish updated information, antimicrobial stewardship programs for appropriate use of antibiotic, and infection control prevention interventions to prevent the spread of MDROs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hung-Jen Tang
- Department of Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan 71004, Taiwan;
| | - Chih-Cheng Lai
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Veterans General Hospital, Tainan Branch, Tainan 710, Taiwan;
| | - Chien-Ming Chao
- Department of Intensive Care Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan 73657, Taiwan
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
It is complicated: Potential short- and long-term impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on antimicrobial resistance—An expert review. ANTIMICROBIAL STEWARDSHIP & HEALTHCARE EPIDEMIOLOGY 2022; 2:e27. [PMID: 36310817 PMCID: PMC9614949 DOI: 10.1017/ash.2022.10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
As of December 2021, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has claimed millions of deaths and caused disruptions in health systems around the world. The short- and long-term effects of COVID-19 on antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which was already a global threat before the pandemic, are manifold and complex. In this expert review, we summarize how COVID-19 might be affecting AMR in the short term (by influencing the key determinants antibiotic use, infection control practices and international/local mobility) and which additional factors might play a role in the long term. Whereas reduced outpatient antibiotic use in high-income countries, increased awareness for hand hygiene, and reduced mobility have likely mitigated the emergence and spread of AMR in the short term, factors such as overuse of antibiotics in COVID-19 patients, shortage of personal protective equipment, lack of qualified healthcare staff, and patient overcrowding have presumably facilitated its propagation. Unsurprisingly, international and national AMR surveillance data for 2020 show ambiguous trends. Although disruptions in antibiotic stewardship programs, AMR surveillance and research might promote the spread of AMR, other developments could prove beneficial to the cause in the long term. These factors include the increased public awareness for infectious diseases and infection control issues, the strengthening of the One Health perspective as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the unprecedented number of international research collaborations and platforms. These factors could even serve as leverage and provide opportunities to better combat AMR in the future.
Collapse
|
30
|
Huang QM, Song WQ, Liang F, Ye BL, Li ZH, Zhang XR, Zhong WF, Zhang PD, Liu D, Shen D, Chen PL, Liu Q, Yang X, Mao C. Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions Implemented to Control the COVID-19 Were Associated With Reduction of Influenza Incidence. Front Public Health 2022; 10:773271. [PMID: 35252083 PMCID: PMC8894245 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.773271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Non-pharmaceutical interventions were implemented in most countries to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. We aimed to describe the incidence of influenza in four countries in the 2019–2020 season and examined the effect of these non-pharmaceutical interventions on the incidence of influenza. Methods We used the network surveillance data from 2015 to 2020 to estimate the percentage increase in influenza cases to explore the effect of non-pharmaceutical interventions implemented to control the COVID-19 on the incidence of influenza in China, the United States, Japan, and Singapore. Results We found that the incidence of influenza has been almost zero and reached a persistent near-zero level for a continuous period of six months since epidemiologic week 14 of 2020 in the four countries. Influenza incidence decreased by 77.71% and 60.50% in the early days of COVID-19 in the 2019–2020 season compared to the same period in preceding years in Japan and Singapore, respectively. Furthermore, influenza incidence decreased by 60.50–99.48% during the period of compulsory interventions in the 2019–2020 season compared to the same period in preceding years in the four countries. Conclusion These findings suggest that the application of non-pharmaceutical interventions, even everyday preventive action, was associated with a reduction of influenza incidence, which highlights that more traditional public health interventions need to be reasserted and universalized to reduce influenza incidence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Mei Huang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Longgang Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wei-Qi Song
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fen Liang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bi-Li Ye
- Longgang Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhi-Hao Li
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xi-Ru Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wen-Fang Zhong
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pei-Dong Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dong Shen
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pei-Liang Chen
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qu Liu
- Longgang Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Shenzhen, Shenzhen, China
- Qu Liu
| | - Xingfen Yang
- Food Safety and Health Research Center, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Xingfen Yang
| | - Chen Mao
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Chen Mao
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Simultaneous Detection of Multiple Respiratory Viruses Among SARS-CoV-2-positive and negative Patients by Multiplex TaqMan One-step Real-time PCR. Jundishapur J Microbiol 2022. [DOI: 10.5812/jjm.122090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has clinical manifestations similar to other common respiratory viral infections. There are limited data on the frequency of viral respiratory coinfection among patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Iran. Objectives: This cross-sectional study investigated the prevalence of multiple respiratory viruses among SARS-CoV-2-positive and negative patients during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Iran. Methods: We included oropharyngeal/nasopharyngeal swab specimens of patients suspected of COVID-19 from December 2020 to March 2021. A reliable multiplex TaqMan one-step real-time PCR method was employed to detect 17 viral respiratory pathogens simultaneously. Descriptive analyses were performed to characterize the specimens concerning age, gender, clinical manifestations, and underlying disease. Results: Multiple respiratory viruses with a frequency of 18.78% were detected in 197 studied patients. Human metapneumovirus was the most prevalent pathogen detected in both SARS-CoV-2-positive (n = 7, 7.7%) and negative (n = 7, 6.6%) patients. Moreover, the frequency rate of viral infection was almost the same in both SARS-CoV-2-positive (18.68%) and negative (18.86%) patients. Altogether, there were no differences in baseline demographic characteristics such as age, sex, clinical symptoms, and comorbidities between the two groups (P > 0.05). Conclusions: The data presented here expand our understanding of the epidemiology of multiple types of viral respiratory pathogens in suspected COVID-19 patients. Therefore, simultaneous screening of other viral respiratory pathogens will be helpful for clinicians and researchers interested in the control of viral respiratory tract infections.
Collapse
|
32
|
Lampejo DT. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the global burden of influenza. J Med Virol 2022; 94:2357-2359. [PMID: 35146774 PMCID: PMC9088378 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.27653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dr Temi Lampejo
- Department of Infection Sciences, King's College Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Chao CM, Lai CC. Increasing legionella in Taiwan during COVID-19 pandemic. Am J Infect Control 2022; 50:237-238. [PMID: 35101180 PMCID: PMC8796872 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2021.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
|
34
|
Abuhammad S, Khabour OF, Alzoubi KH, El-zubi F, Hamaieh SH. Respiratory Infectious Diseases and Adherence to Nonpharmacological Interventions for Overcoming COVID-19 Pandemic: A Self-Reported Study. Int J Clin Pract 2022; 2022:4495806. [PMID: 35685528 PMCID: PMC9159161 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4495806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of the study was to examine changes in the frequency of respiratory diseases during the COVID-19 pandemic and to correlate the changes with nonpharmacological interventions for overcoming the pandemic. In addition, the study explored the predictors of adherence to nonpharmacological interventions among the Jordanian public. METHOD The study is survey-based and self-reported, using convenient sampling. The study was conducted during October-November of 2021. RESULTS The study included 1714 participants. About one-quarter of participants reported decreases in the incidence of cold (21.9%), influenza (24.7%), respiratory infections other than cold and influenza (23.3%), tonsillitis (23.0%), and oral ulcers (23.5%). On the other hand, the majority reported no change in the incidence of the above infections (62.0-64.4%). Adherence of the sample to nonpharmacological interventions of COVID-19 was moderate. The percentages of people who always wear a mask, follow social distancing, and use sanitizing procedures were 47.1%, 37.8%, and 68.8% respectively. ANOVA test showed a significant correlation between the incidence of respiratory/oral infections and adherence to nonpharmacological interventions. The multiple regression test showed that people who followed COVID-19 news, have children, have a job, and being married were more adhered to nonpharmacological measures compared to others. CONCLUSION Implementation of nonpharmacological interventions used to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic can be applied to reduce other respiratory infections during their peak seasons.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sawsan Abuhammad
- Department of Maternal and Child Health, Faculty of Nursing, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Omar F Khabour
- Dept. of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid 22110, Jordan
| | - Karem H Alzoubi
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacotherapeutics, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Farah El-zubi
- Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Shaher H Hamaieh
- Deperatment of Community and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, The Hashemite University, Zarqa 13133, Jordan
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Quandelacy TM, Adams LE, Munoz J, Santiago GA, Kada S, Johansson MA, Alvarado LI, Rivera-Amill V, Paz–Bailey G. Reduced spread of influenza and other respiratory viral infections during the COVID-19 pandemic in southern Puerto Rico. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0266095. [PMID: 35476785 PMCID: PMC9045654 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0266095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Impacts of COVID-19 mitigation measures on seasonal respiratory viruses is unknown in sub-tropical climates. METHODS We compared weekly testing and test-positivity of respiratory infections in the 2019-2020 respiratory season to the 2012-2018 seasons in southern Puerto Rico using Wilcoxon signed rank tests. RESULTS Compared to the average for the 2012-2018 seasons, test-positivity was significantly lower for Influenza A (p<0.001) & B (p<0.001), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) (p<0.01), respiratory adenovirus (AdV) (p<0.05), and other respiratory viruses (p<0.001) following March 2020 COVID-19 stay at home orders. CONCLUSIONS Mitigation measures and behavioral social distancing choices may have reduced respiratory viral spread in southern Puerto Rico.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Talia M. Quandelacy
- Dengue Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Laura E. Adams
- Dengue Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Jorge Munoz
- Dengue Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Gilberto A. Santiago
- Dengue Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Sarah Kada
- Dengue Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Michael A. Johansson
- Dengue Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | | | | | - Gabriela Paz–Bailey
- Dengue Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Randall MM, Despujos Harfouche F, Raae-Nielsen J, Chen BG, Chen M, Brown LA. COVID-19 Restrictions Are Associated With a Significant Decrease of All Common Respiratory Viral Illnesses in Children. Clin Pediatr (Phila) 2022; 61:22-25. [PMID: 34643469 PMCID: PMC8685736 DOI: 10.1177/00099228211044842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
To combat the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), significant measures were enacted including school and business closures, social distancing, and facial coverings. We hypothesized that this would have an impact on all respiratory infections in children. Using nasopharyngeal panel test results of children in the emergency department, we evaluated cross-sectional data from February to May in both 2019 and 2020. Respiratory panel testing included 11 common respiratory viruses and bacteria. After the restrictions were enacted, we observed a large drop in the number and percentage positive of all common respiratory viral infections in 2020 compared with the same time in 2019. When analyzing data from children <2 years old, a similar decrease was seen. Restrictions enacted to prevent the spread of COVID-19 were associated with a significant decrease in respiratory viral infections in children of all ages. This association could guide future public health recommendations and guidelines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melanie M. Randall
- Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA, USA,Melanie M. Randall, Department of Emergency Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center, 11234 Anderson Street, Loma Linda, CA 92354, USA.
| | | | | | - Brian G. Chen
- Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| | | | - Lance A. Brown
- Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Sabeena S, Ravishankar N, Robin S. The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on influenza surveillance: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Indian J Public Health 2022; 66:458-465. [PMID: 37039174 DOI: 10.4103/ijph.ijph_926_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Influenza activity was reported to be below the seasonal levels during the Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic globally. However, during the severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2 outbreak, the routine real-time surveillance of influenza-like illness and acute respiratory infection was adversely affected due to the changes in priorities, economic constraints, repurposing of hospitals for COVID care, and closure of outpatient services. Methods A systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out to assess the pooled proportion of symptomatic cases tested for influenza virus before the current pandemic in 2019 and during the pandemic in 2020/21. An electronic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar was carried out for the articles reporting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on influenza surveillance among humans using search terms. The study was designed based on Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines and the meta-analysis was performed to synthesize the pooled proportion of patients sampled for influenza with 95% confidence interval (CI). Results The nine qualified studies from the WHO European region, Canada, Japan, Germany, Italy, Spain, South Africa, and the United States were pooled by random-effects meta-analysis. The overall pooled proportion of symptomatic cases sampled for influenza surveillance before and during the pandemic was 2.38% (95% CI 2.08%-2.67%) and 4.18% (95% CI 3.8%-4.52%), respectively. However, the pooled proportion of samples tested for influenza before the pandemic was 0.69% (95% CI 0.45%-0.92%) and during the pandemic was 0.48% (95% CI 0.28%-0.68%) when studies from Canada were excluded. Conclusion The meta-analysis concludes that globally there was a decline in influenza surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic except in Canada.
Collapse
|
38
|
Tam JS, Shu Y. Public Health Control Measures for the Co-circulation of Influenza and SARS-CoV-2 During Influenza Seasons. China CDC Wkly 2022; 4:22-26. [PMID: 35586519 PMCID: PMC8796727 DOI: 10.46234/ccdcw2021.228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- John S Tam
- Department of Applied Biology and Chemical Technology, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China
- Asia Pacific Alliance for the Control of Influenza (APACI), South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- John S Tam,
| | - Yuelong Shu
- Asia Pacific Alliance for the Control of Influenza (APACI), South Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Tran LK, Huang DW, Li NK, Li LM, Palacios JA, Chang HH. The impact of the COVID-19 preventive measures on influenza transmission: molecular and epidemiological evidence. Int J Infect Dis 2021; 116:11-13. [PMID: 34902583 PMCID: PMC8662913 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2021.12.323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 11/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective We quantify the impact of COVID-19-related control measures on the spread of human influenza virus H1N1 and H3N2. Methods We analyzed case numbers to estimate the end of the 2019−2020 influenza season and compared it with the median of the previous 9 seasons. In addition, we used influenza molecular data to compare within-region and between-region genetic diversity and effective population size from 2019 to 2020. Finally, we analyzed personal behavior and policy stringency data for each region. Results The 2019−2020 influenza season ended earlier than the median of the previous 9 seasons in all regions. For H1N1 and H3N2, there was an increase in between-region genetic diversity in most pairs of regions between 2019 and 2020. There was a decrease in within-region genetic diversity for 12 of 14 regions for H1N1 and 9 of 12 regions for H3N2. There was a decrease in effective population size for 10 of 13 regions for H1N1 and 3 of 7 regions for H3N2. Conclusions We found consistent evidence of a decrease in influenza incidence after the introduction of preventive measures due to COVID-19 emergence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Dai-Wei Huang
- College of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Nien-Kung Li
- College of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Lucy M Li
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA; The Public Health Company, Goleta, CA, USA
| | - Julia A Palacios
- Department of Statistics, Stanford University, CA, USA; Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Stanford School of Medicine, CA, USA
| | - Hsiao-Han Chang
- Department of Life Science & Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Doroshenko A, Lee N, MacDonald C, Zelyas N, Asadi L, Kanji JN. Decline of Influenza and Respiratory Viruses With COVID-19 Public Health Measures: Alberta, Canada. Mayo Clin Proc 2021; 96:3042-3052. [PMID: 34863395 PMCID: PMC8450272 DOI: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2021.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the incidence of influenza and noninfluenza respiratory viruses (NIRVs) pre-/post-implementation of public health measures aimed to decrease coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission using population-based surveillance data. We hypothesized that such measures could reduce the burden of respiratory viruses (RVs) transmitting via the same routes. PATIENTS AND METHODS An interrupted time-series analysis of RV surveillance data in Alberta, Canada, from May 2017 to July 2020 was conducted. The burden of influenza and NIRVs before and after intervention initiation at week 11 was compared. The analysis was adjusted for seasonality, overdispersion, and autocorrelation. RESULTS During the study period, an average of 708 and 4056 weekly respiratory multiplex molecular panels were conducted pre-/post-intervention, respectively. We found significant reductions in test positivity rates in the postintervention period for influenza (-94.3%; 95% CI, -93.8 to 97.4%; P<.001) and all NIRVs (-76.5%; 95% CI, -77.3 to -75.8%; P<.001) in the crude model, and -86.2% (95% CI, -91.5 to -77.4%: P<.001) and -75% (95% CI, -79.7 to -69.3%; P<.001), respectively, in the adjusted models. Subanalyses for individual viruses showed significant decreases in respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus, enterovirus/rhinovirus, and parainfluenza. For non-severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 human coronaviruses, the decline was not statistically significant after adjustment (-22.3%; 95% CI, -49.3 to +19%, P=.246). CONCLUSION The implementation of COVID-19 public health measures likely resulted in reduced transmission of common RVs. Although drastic lockdowns are unlikely to be required given widespread COVID-19 vaccination, targeted implementation of such measures can lower RV disease burden. Studies to evaluate relative contributions of individual interventions are warranted.
Collapse
Key Words
- hcov, human coronavirus
- herv, human entero/rhinovirus
- hmpv, human metapneumovirus
- irr, incident rate ratio
- its, interrupted time series
- nirv, noninfluenza respiratory virus
- pcr, polymerase chain reaction
- piv, parainfluenza virus
- rsv, respiratory syncytial virus
- tpr, test positivity rate
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Doroshenko
- Division of Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Nelson Lee
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Clayton MacDonald
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, Vancouver Coastal Health, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Nathan Zelyas
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Public Health Laboratory, Alberta Precision Laboratories, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Leyla Asadi
- Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jamil N Kanji
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; Public Health Laboratory, Alberta Precision Laboratories, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Liu CHS, Chou SF, Lin JY. Implementation and evaluation of tourism industry: Evidentiary case study of night market development in Taiwan. EVALUATION AND PROGRAM PLANNING 2021; 89:101961. [PMID: 34140195 DOI: 10.1016/j.evalprogplan.2021.101961] [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: 02/02/2019] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Taiwan's night markets are the most popular and unique characteristics of domestic and foreign tourists' night life and have great potential value for tourism development. However, development of the night market is vulnerable to the negative impact of COVID-19. To discover the potential value and evaluation of the night market, we interviewed 46 experts from several industries and occupations in Taiwan to investigate the relationships between brand equity, benefits, motivations of and satisfaction with night market tourism and development. The results show that travel motivation has both direct and indirect effects on brand equity, benefits and satisfaction. Furthermore, customer satisfaction is the most critical performance attribute of night market tourism, which may be influenced by brand equity, benefit, and motivation. Managerial implications and future research directions are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Hsing Sam Liu
- Department of Tourism Management at National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Taiwan, ROC.
| | - Sheng-Fang Chou
- Department of Hospitality Management, Ming Chuan University, Taoyuan County, Taiwan, ROC.
| | - Jun-You Lin
- Department of Management and Information, National Open University, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Akhtar Z, Islam MA, Aleem MA, Mah-E-Muneer S, Ahmmed MK, Ghosh PK, Rahman M, Rahman MZ, Sumiya MK, Rahman MM, Shirin T, Alamgir ASM, Banu S, Rahman M, Chowdhury F. SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus coinfection among patients with severe acute respiratory infection during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh: a hospital-based descriptive study. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e053768. [PMID: 34845073 PMCID: PMC8634662 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-053768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate the proportion of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus coinfection among severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases-patients during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. DESIGN Descriptive study. SETTING Nine tertiary level hospitals across Bangladesh. PARTICIPANTS Patients admitted as SARI (defined as cases with subjective or measured fever of ≥38 C° and cough with onset within the last 10 days and requiring hospital admission) case-patients. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES Proportion of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus coinfection and proportion of mortality among SARI case-patients. RESULTS We enrolled 1986 SARI case-patients with a median age: 28 years (IQR: 1.2-53 years), and 67.6% were male. Among them, 285 (14.3%) were infected with SARS-CoV-2; 175 (8.8%) were infected with the influenza virus, and five (0.3%) were coinfected with both viruses. There was a non-appearance of influenza during the usual peak season (May to July) in Bangladesh. SARS-CoV-2 infection was significantly more associated with diabetes (14.0% vs 5.9%, p<0.001) and hypertension (26.7% vs 11.5%, p<0.001). But influenza among SARI case-patients was significantly less associated with diabetes (4.0% vs 7.4%, p=0.047) and hypertension (5.7% vs 14.4%, p=0.001). The proportion of in-hospital deaths among SARS-CoV-2 infected SARI case-patients were higher (10.9% (n=31) vs 4.4% (n=75), p<0.001) than those without SARS-CoV-2 infection; the proportion of postdischarge deaths within 30 days was also higher (9.1% (n=25) vs 4.6% (n=74), p=0.001) among SARS-CoV-2 infected SARI case-patients than those without infection. No in-hospital mortality or postdischarge mortality was registered among the five coinfected SARI case-patients. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that coinfection with SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus was not very common and had less disease severity considering mortality in Bangladesh. There was no circulating influenza virus during the influenza peak season during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Future studies are warranted for further exploration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zubair Akhtar
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Ariful Islam
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Abdul Aleem
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, Bangladesh
| | - Syeda Mah-E-Muneer
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - M Kaousar Ahmmed
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Probir K Ghosh
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mustafizur Rahman
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammed Ziaur Rahman
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mariya Kibtiya Sumiya
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Mahfuzur Rahman
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Tahmina Shirin
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - A S M Alamgir
- Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sayera Banu
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mahmudur Rahman
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
- Global Health Development, EMPHNET, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Fahmida Chowdhury
- Infectious Diseases Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Li F, Zhang Y, Shi P, Cao L, Su L, Zhang Y, Peng K, Lu R, Tan W, Shen J. Epidemiology of Viruses Causing Pediatric Community Acquired Pneumonia in Shanghai During 2010-2020: What Happened Before and After the COVID-19 Outbreak? Infect Dis Ther 2021; 11:165-174. [PMID: 34694579 PMCID: PMC8542501 DOI: 10.1007/s40121-021-00548-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Since the global outbreak of COVID-19, there has been a significant reduction in pediatric outpatient and emergency visits for infectious diseases. The purpose of this study was to analyze the changes in respiratory viruses in children with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in Shanghai in the past 10 years, especially in the first year after COVID-19. METHODS We conducted a retrospective, observational study; the results for eight common respiratory viruses (respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus A and B, parainfluenza virus 1-3 (PIV), adenovirus (ADV) and human metapneumovirus) tested by direct fluorescent antibody assays in hospitalized CAP cases in Children's Hospital of Fudan University during 2010-2020 were analyzed. RESULTS Of the 5544 hospitalized CAP patients included in this study, 20.2% (1125/5544) were positive for the eight respiratory viruses. The top three pathogens were RSV, PIV3 and ADV, detected from 9.8% (543/5544), 5.3% (294/5544) and 2.0% (111/5544) of the samples, respectively. RSV had the highest positive rates among children < 2 years old. In 2020, the detection rate of all viruses showed a sharp decline from February to August compared with the previous 9 years. When the Shanghai community reopened in August 2020, the detection rate of eight viruses rebounded significantly in September. CONCLUSIONS These eight respiratory viruses, especially RSV and PIV, were important pathogens of CAP in Shanghai children in the past 10 years. The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the detection rates for eight respiratory viruses in children with CAP in Shanghai.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fei Li
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuhan Zhang
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Shi
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Linfeng Cao
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Liyun Su
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, China
| | - Yulan Zhang
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Ke Peng
- Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Roujian Lu
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China
| | - Wenjie Tan
- National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, China CDC, Beijing, China.
| | - Jun Shen
- Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Children's Medical Center, Shanghai, China.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Yu X, Xu C, Huang W, Xu X, Xie W, Long X. The incidence of influenza in children was decreased in the first flu season after COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan. J Infect Public Health 2021; 14:1279-1281. [PMID: 34500253 PMCID: PMC8393498 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2021.08.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Wuhan, China was the first city to discover COVID-19. With the government's macro-control and the active cooperation of the public, the spread of COVID-19 has been effectively controlled. In order to understand the additional impact of these measures on the prevalence of common influenza, we have collected flu test data from the Pediatric Clinic of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University from September to December 2020, and compared them with the same period in 2018 and 2019. It is found that compared with the same period in 2018 and 2019, the rate of children's influenza activity in 2020 has significantly decreased, which indicates that the protective measures against COVID-19 have effectively reduced the level of influenza activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaosi Yu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China; Department of Pediatric Surgery, Tongji Hospital, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430000, China
| | - Chen Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenjie Huang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xianqun Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Wen Xie
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| | - Xinghua Long
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Laupland KB, Collignon PJ, Schwartz IS. Sleeping with the enemy: Will the COVID-19 pandemic turn the tide of antimicrobial-resistant infections? JOURNAL OF THE ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE CANADA = JOURNAL OFFICIEL DE L'ASSOCIATION POUR LA MICROBIOLOGIE MEDICALE ET L'INFECTIOLOGIE CANADA 2021; 6:177-180. [PMID: 36337755 PMCID: PMC9615466 DOI: 10.3138/jammi-2021-05-28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin B Laupland
- Department of Medicine, Royal Inland Hospital, Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Intensive Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Peter J Collignon
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology, Canberra Hospital, Garran, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- Department of Infectious Disease, Medical School, Australian National University, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Ilan S Schwartz
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Dao TL, Hoang VT, Colson P, Million M, Gautret P. Co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JOURNAL OF CLINICAL VIROLOGY PLUS 2021; 1:100036. [PMID: 35262019 PMCID: PMC8349735 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcvp.2021.100036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
We conducted this meta-analysis to determine the proportion of co-infection with influenza viruses in SARS-CoV-2 positive patients and to investigate the severity of COVID-19 in these patients. We included studies with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by qRT-PCR and influenza virus infection (A and/or B) by nucleic acid tests. The proportion of co-infection was compared between children and adults, and between critically ill or deceased patients compared to overall patients. Fifty-four articles were included. The overall proportion of co-infection was 0.7%, 95%CI = [0.4 – 1.3]. Most influenza co-infections were due to the influenza A virus (74.4%). The proportion of co-infection with influenza viruses among children (3.2%, 95% CI = [0.9 – 10.9]) was significantly higher than that in adult patients (0.3%, 95% CI = [0.1 – 1.2]), p-value <0.01. The proportion of co-infection with influenza viruses among critically ill patients tended to be higher than that in overall patients (2.2%, 95% CI = [0.3 – 22.4] versus 0.6%, 95% CI = [0.3 – 1.2], respectively, p-value = 0.22). Screening for pathogens in co-infection, particularly influenza viruses in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, is necessary. This warrants close surveillance and investigation of the co-incidences and interactions of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses, which is facilitated by the expansion of syndromic diagnosis approaches through the use of multiplex PCR assays.
Collapse
|
47
|
Bai BK, Jiang QY, Hou J. The COVID-19 epidemic and other notifiable infectious diseases in China. Microbes Infect 2021; 24:104881. [PMID: 34419605 PMCID: PMC8375246 DOI: 10.1016/j.micinf.2021.104881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Many infection control measures have been implemented to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 during COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed to investigate the impact of COVID-19 epidemic on the other notifiable infectious diseases in China, including respiratory infectious diseases, diseases transmitted through the digestive tract and animal-borne diseases. Compared with 2019, the overall decline rate of respiratory infectious diseases in 2020 is the highest (60–90%), and the diseases transmitted by the digestive tract and animal-borne diseases are similar at 20–30%. Both hepatitis and sexually transmitted diseases decreased significantly in February, and there were basically no significant changes in other months compared with previous years. The series of measures taken by China government to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 are also very effective in preventing the spread of respiratory infectious diseases. But they also have a certain degree of prevention against notifiable infectious diseases spread by other routes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bing-Ke Bai
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, 100 Middle Street of 4th West Ring Road, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Qi-Yu Jiang
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, 100 Middle Street of 4th West Ring Road, Beijing, 100039, China
| | - Jun Hou
- Institute of Infectious Diseases, Department of Infectious Diseases, Fifth Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, 100 Middle Street of 4th West Ring Road, Beijing, 100039, China.
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Akhtar Z, Chowdhury F, Rahman M, Ghosh PK, Ahmmed MK, Islam MA, Mott JA, Davis W. Seasonal influenza during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangladesh. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0255646. [PMID: 34343203 PMCID: PMC8330950 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0255646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION During the 2019 novel coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020, limited data from several countries suggested reduced seasonal influenza viruses' circulation. This was due to community mitigation measures implemented to control the pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We used sentinel surveillance data to identify changes in the 2020 influenza season compared with previous seasons in Bangladesh. METHODS We used hospital-based influenza surveillance (HBIS) data of Bangladesh that are generated year-round and are population-representative severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) data for all age groups from seven public and two private tertiary care level hospitals data from 2016 to 2019. We applied the moving epidemic method (MEM) by using R language (v4.0.3), and MEM web applications (v2.14) on influenza-positive rates of SARI cases collected weekly to estimate an average seasonal influenza curve and establish epidemic thresholds. RESULTS The 2016-2019 average season started on epi week 18 (95% CI: 15-25) and lasted 12.5 weeks (95% CI: 12-14 weeks) until week 30.5. The 2020 influenza season started on epi week 36 and ended at epi week 41, lasting for only five weeks. Therefore, influenza epidemic started 18 weeks later, was 7.5 weeks shorter, and was less intense than the average epidemic of the four previous years. The 2020 influenza season started on the same week when COVID-19 control measures were halted, and 13 weeks after the measures were relaxed. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that seasonal influenza circulation in Bangladesh was delayed and less intense in 2020 than in previous years. Community mitigation measures may have contributed to this reduction of seasonal influenza transmission. These findings contribute to a limited but growing body of evidence that influenza seasons were altered globally in 2020.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zubair Akhtar
- International Center for Diarrheal Diseases, Bangladesh, (icddr,b) Programme for Emerging Infections, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Fahmida Chowdhury
- International Center for Diarrheal Diseases, Bangladesh, (icddr,b) Programme for Emerging Infections, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mahmudur Rahman
- International Center for Diarrheal Diseases, Bangladesh, (icddr,b) Programme for Emerging Infections, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Probir Kumar Ghosh
- International Center for Diarrheal Diseases, Bangladesh, (icddr,b) Programme for Emerging Infections, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md. Kaousar Ahmmed
- International Center for Diarrheal Diseases, Bangladesh, (icddr,b) Programme for Emerging Infections, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Ariful Islam
- International Center for Diarrheal Diseases, Bangladesh, (icddr,b) Programme for Emerging Infections, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Joshua A. Mott
- Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Regional Influenza Program, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - William Davis
- Influenza Division, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Regional Influenza Program, Bangkok, Thailand
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Wagatsuma K, Koolhof IS, Shobugawa Y, Saito R. Decreased human respiratory syncytial virus activity during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: an ecological time-series analysis. BMC Infect Dis 2021; 21:734. [PMID: 34344351 PMCID: PMC8329631 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-021-06461-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as sanitary measures and travel restrictions, aimed at controlling the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), may affect the transmission dynamics of human respiratory syncytial virus (HRSV). We aimed to quantify the contribution of the sales of hand hygiene products and the number of international and domestic airline passenger arrivals on HRSV epidemic in Japan. METHODS The monthly number of HRSV cases per sentinel site (HRSV activity) in 2020 was compared with the average of the corresponding period in the previous 6 years (from January 2014 to December 2020) using a monthly paired t-test. A generalized linear gamma regression model was used to regress the time-series of the monthly HRSV activity against NPI indicators, including sale of hand hygiene products and the number of domestic and international airline passengers, while controlling for meteorological conditions (monthly average temperature and relative humidity) and seasonal variations between years (2014-2020). RESULTS The average number of monthly HRSV case notifications in 2020 decreased by approximately 85% (p < 0.001) compared to those in the preceding 6 years (2014-2019). For every average ¥1 billion (approximately £680,000/$9,000,000) spent on hand hygiene products during the current month and 1 month before there was a 0.29% (p = 0.003) decrease in HRSV infections. An increase of average 1000 domestic and international airline passenger arrivals during the previous 1-2 months was associated with a 3.8 × 10- 4% (p < 0.001) and 1.2 × 10- 3% (p < 0.001) increase in the monthly number of HRSV infections, respectively. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests that there is an association between the decrease in the monthly number of HRSV cases and improved hygiene and sanitary measures and travel restrictions for COVID-19 in Japan, indicating that these public health interventions can contribute to the suppression of HRSV activity. These findings may help in public health policy and decision making.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Keita Wagatsuma
- Division of International Health (Public Health), Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachi dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, 951-8510, Japan.
| | - Iain S Koolhof
- College of Health and Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Yugo Shobugawa
- Department of Active Ageing (donated by Tokamachi city, Niigata, Japan), Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Reiko Saito
- Division of International Health (Public Health), Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, 1-757 Asahimachi dori, Chuo-ku, Niigata City, 951-8510, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Janapatla RP, Chen CL, Dudek A, Li HC, Yang HP, Su LH, Chiu CH. Serotype transmission dynamics and reduced incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease caused by different serotypes after implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions during COVID-19 pandemic. Eur Respir J 2021; 58:13993003.00978-2021. [PMID: 34289978 PMCID: PMC8311280 DOI: 10.1183/13993003.00978-2021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
To block the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2), a number of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) are being implemented. Taiwan successfully controlled coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mainly through NPIs that were centred on facial masking, enhanced hand hygiene, social distancing, international travel controls, effective quarantine and contact-tracing policy [1, 2]. After the first case of COVID-19 was detected on 21 January, 2020, a rise in local demand for surgical masks and N95 respirators was observed and at least 50% of people spontaneously wore a facemask in public places from early February 2020 [3, 4]. Among the total of 799 COVID-19 cases reported in 2020, annual incidence rate of COVID-19 in Taiwan was remarkably low (0.238 per 100 000; n=56) for locally acquired (local) cases and high (3.153 per 100 000; n=743) for internationally acquired (imported) cases (Taiwan CDC, https://data.cdc.gov.tw/en/dataset). It is perceived that NPIs that are currently being implemented to reduce COVID-19 should also prevent both acquisition and transmission of other viral and bacterial respiratory tract infections [5–9]. In this observational study we examined the monthly incidence rates of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and serotype distribution in age groups at high risk and from high pneumococcal transmission settings between January 2020 and February 2021. The differential serotype transmission dynamics revealed by various levels of reduction in IPD caused by different serotypes was discussed. Significant reduction in the incidence rates of both vaccine and non-vaccine serotype invasive pneumococcal disease among children and adults during the COVID-19 pandemic were observed after the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventionshttps://bit.ly/36CAute
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rajendra Prasad Janapatla
- Molecular Infectious Disease Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chyi-Liang Chen
- Molecular Infectious Disease Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Anna Dudek
- Molecular Infectious Disease Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Chieh Li
- Molecular Infectious Disease Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Hsin-Ping Yang
- Molecular Infectious Disease Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Lin-Hui Su
- Molecular Infectious Disease Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Hsun Chiu
- Molecular Infectious Disease Research Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.,Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|