1
|
Felgendreff L, Siegers R, Otten L, Betsch C. Infographics on risks associated with COVID-19 and the willingness to get the AstraZeneca vaccine: two randomized online experiments. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:529. [PMID: 38378506 PMCID: PMC10880230 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18057-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Germans hesitated to get vaccinated with AstraZeneca in the COVID-19 pandemic after reports of blood clots. METHODS In two preregistered online experiments with stratified randomization (Study 1 N = 824, Study 2: N = 1,056), we tested whether providing evidence-based benefit-risk information reduces the perceived risk of the AstraZeneca vaccine and the perceived probability of blood clots due to the AstraZeneca vaccine and increases the vaccination intention. In Study 1, participants saw no infographic (control) or one of two infographics (low vs. high exposure risk varied by the underlying incidence rates). Study 2 additionally varied the infographic design displaying the risk information (presented as table, circle icons, or manikin-like icons). RESULTS The infographic decreased the risk perception of the vaccine compared to no infographic (Study 1: Cohens d = 0.31, 95% CI [0.14, 0.48]; Study 2: Cohens d = 0.34, 95% CI [0.06, 0.62]), but it did not influence the perceived probability of blood clots due to the AstraZeneca vaccine (Study 2: Cohens d = 0.05, 95% CI [-0.23, 0.33]). Also, the infographic design did not affect the perceived probability of blood clots (Study 2). The vaccination intention was not affected by viewing the infographic (Study 1: Cohens d = 0.04, 95% CI [-0.13, 0.21]; Study 2: Cohens d = 0.04, 95% CI [-0.24, 0.32]) nor the presented infection rate (Study 1: Cohens d = 0.07, 95% CI [-0.09, 0.24], Study 2: Cohens d = 0.01, 95% CI [-0.12, 0.15]) but by risk perceptions, sociodemographic characteristics, confidence in the AstraZeneca vaccine, and preference for alternative vaccines. CONCLUSIONS The evidence-based benefit-risk information helped putting the risk of vaccinations into perspective. Nevertheless, objective risk information alone did not affect vaccination intention that was low due to the preexisting lacking vaccine confidence.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Felgendreff
- Institute for Planetary Health Behaviour, University of Erfurt, Nordhäuser Str. 63, Erfurt, 99089, Germany.
- Health Communication, BNITM Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - Regina Siegers
- Data Literacy Project, Leibniz Institute for Educational Trajectories, Bamberg, Germany
| | - Leonie Otten
- Institute for Planetary Health Behaviour, University of Erfurt, Nordhäuser Str. 63, Erfurt, 99089, Germany
- Health Communication, BNITM Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Cornelia Betsch
- Institute for Planetary Health Behaviour, University of Erfurt, Nordhäuser Str. 63, Erfurt, 99089, Germany
- Health Communication, BNITM Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Goretzki SC, van der Linden M, Itzek A, Hühne T, Adelmann RO, Ala Eldin F, Albarouni M, Becker JC, Berghäuser MA, Boesing T, Boeswald M, Brasche M, Brevis Nuñez F, Camara R, Deibert C, Dohle F, Dolgner J, Dziobaka J, Eifinger F, Elting N, Endmann M, Engelmann G, Frenzke H, Gappa M, Gharavi B, Goletz C, Hahn E, Heidenreich Y, Heimann K, Hensel KO, Hoffmann HG, Hoppenz M, Horneff G, Klassen H, Koerner-Rettberg C, Längler A, Lenz P, Lohmeier K, Müller A, Niemann F, Paulussen M, Pentek F, Perez R, Pingel M, Repges P, Rothoeft T, Rübo J, Schade H, Schmitz R, Schonhoff P, Schwade JN, Schwarz T, Seiffert P, Selzer G, Spille U, Thiel C, Thimm A, Urgatz B, van den Heuvel A, van Hop T, Giesen V, Wirth S, Wollbrink T, Wüller D, Felderhoff-Müser U, Dohna-Schwake C, Lâm TT, Claus H, Bruns N. Outbreak of severe community-acquired bacterial infections among children in North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany), October to December 2022. Infection 2024:10.1007/s15010-023-02165-x. [PMID: 38366304 DOI: 10.1007/s15010-023-02165-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE In late 2022, a surge of severe S. pyogenes infections was reported in several European countries. This study assessed hospitalizations and disease severity of community-acquired bacterial infections with S. pyogenes, S. pneumoniae, N. meningitidis, and H. influenzae among children in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW), Germany, during the last quarter of 2022 compared to long-term incidences. METHODS Hospital cases due to bacterial infections between October and December 2022 were collected in a multicenter study (MC) from 59/62 (95%) children's hospitals in NRW and combined with surveillance data (2016-2023) from the national reference laboratories for streptococci, N. meningitidis, and H. influenzae. Overall and pathogen-specific incidence rates (IR) from January 2016 to March 2023 were estimated via capture-recapture analyses. Expected annual deaths from the studied pathogens were calculated from national death cause statistics. RESULTS In the MC study, 153 cases with high overall disease severity were reported with pneumonia being most common (59%, n = 91). IRs of bacterial infections declined at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and massively surged to unprecedented levels in late 2022 and early 2023 (overall hospitalizations 3.5-fold), with S. pyogenes and S. pneumoniae as main drivers (18-fold and threefold). Observed deaths during the study period exceeded the expected number for the entire year in NRW by far (7 vs. 0.9). DISCUSSION The unprecedented peak of bacterial infections and deaths in late 2022 and early 2023 was caused mainly by S. pyogenes and S. pneumoniae. Improved precautionary measures are needed to attenuate future outbreaks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C Goretzki
- Department of Pediatrics I (Neonatology, Pediatric Intensive Care, Pediatric Neurology, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Mark van der Linden
- German Reference Laboratory for Streptococci, Department of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Andreas Itzek
- German Reference Laboratory for Streptococci, Department of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Tom Hühne
- Department of Pediatrics I (Neonatology, Pediatric Intensive Care, Pediatric Neurology, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Roland O Adelmann
- Department of General Pediatrics, Klinikum Oberberg, Kreiskrankenhaus Gummersbach, Gummersbach, Germany
| | - Firas Ala Eldin
- Department of General Pediatrics, Helios Hospital Schwelm, Schwelm, Germany
| | - Mohamed Albarouni
- Department of General Pediatrics, Marien-Hospital Gelsenkirchen, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
| | | | - Martin A Berghäuser
- Division of Pediatric Intensive Care, Department of Pediatrics, Florence Nightingale Hospital Kaiserswerth, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Thomas Boesing
- Division of Pediatric Intensive Care, Department of Pediatrics, Protestant Hospital Bethel, University of Bielefeld, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Michael Boeswald
- Department of Pediatrics, Sankt Franziskus Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Milian Brasche
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, RWTH University of Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Francisco Brevis Nuñez
- Division of Pediatric Intensive Care, Department of Pediatrics, Sana Hospitals Duisburg, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Rokya Camara
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, GFO Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Clara Deibert
- Department of General Pediatrics, DRK Hospital Kirchen, Kirchen, Germany
| | - Frank Dohle
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine, St. Vinzenz Hospital Paderborn, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Jörg Dolgner
- Department of General Pediatrics, GFO Hospital Dinslaken, Dinslaken, Germany
| | - Jan Dziobaka
- Department of Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Frank Eifinger
- Division of Pediatric Intensive Care, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Natalie Elting
- Department of General Pediatrics, Evangelical Hospital Oberhausen, Oberhausen, Germany
| | - Matthias Endmann
- Department of General Pediatrics, St. Franziskus-Hospital Ahlen, Ahlen, Germany
| | - Guido Engelmann
- Department of General Pediatrics, Lukas-Hospital Neuss, Neuss, Germany
| | - Holger Frenzke
- Department of General Pediatrics, Märkisch Hospital Lüdenscheid, Lüdenscheid, Germany
| | - Monika Gappa
- Department of General Pediatrics, Evangelical Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Bahman Gharavi
- Department of General Pediatrics, Marien-Hospital Witten, Witten, Germany
| | - Christine Goletz
- Department of General Pediatrics, Städtische Kliniken Mönchengladbach, Elisabeth-Hospital Rheydt, Mönchengladbach, Germany
| | - Eva Hahn
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Sankt Agnes Hospital, Bocholt, Germany
| | | | - Konrad Heimann
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital, RWTH University of Aachen, Aachen, Germany
| | - Kai O Hensel
- Division of Pediatric Intensive Care, Department of Pediatrics, Helios University Hospital Wuppertal, Witten/Herdecke University, Wuppertal, Germany
| | | | - Marc Hoppenz
- Division of Pediatric Intensive Care, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital, Amsterdamer Str., Cologne, Germany
| | - Gerd Horneff
- Department of Pediatrics, Asklepios Clinic Sankt Augustin GmbH, Sankt Augustin, Germany
| | - Helene Klassen
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Hochsauerland Hospital, Arnsberg, Germany
| | | | - Alfred Längler
- Department of Pediatrics, Gemeinschaftskrankenhaus Herdecke, University of Witten/Herdecke, Herdecke, Germany
| | - Pascal Lenz
- Department of General Pediatrics, Hospital Leverkusen GmbH, Leverkusen, Germany
| | - Klaus Lohmeier
- Division of Neonatology and Pediatric Cardiology, Department of General Pediatrics, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Andreas Müller
- Department of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Frank Niemann
- Department of General Pediatrics, Marien-Hospital Gelsenkirchen, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
| | - Michael Paulussen
- Division of Oncology and Haematology, Department of General Pediatrics, Hospital of Children and Adolescents, University of Witten/Herdecke, Datteln, Germany
| | - Falk Pentek
- Department of Pediatrics, Elisabeth-Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ruy Perez
- Division of Pediatric Intensive Care, Department of Pediatrics, Helios Hospital Krefeld, Krefeld, Germany
| | - Markus Pingel
- Department of General Pediatrics, DRK Hospital Siegen gGmbH, Siegen, Germany
| | - Philip Repges
- Department of General Pediatrics, Porz, Cologne, Germany
| | - Tobias Rothoeft
- Division of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, University Children's Hospital, Ruhr University of Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jochen Rübo
- Department of General Pediatrics, St. Antonius Hospital Kleve, Kleve, Germany
| | - Herbert Schade
- Department of General Pediatrics, Hospital Mechernich GmbH, Mechernich, Germany
| | - Robert Schmitz
- Department of Pediatrics, Helios Clinic Duisburg, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Peter Schonhoff
- Department of Pediatrics, Clemenshospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jan N Schwade
- Department of General Pediatrics, Evangelical Hospital Lippstadt, Lippstadt, Germany
| | - Tobias Schwarz
- Department of General Pediatrics, Municipal Hospital Solingen, Solingen, Germany
| | - Peter Seiffert
- Department of Pediatrics, Helios Clinic Duisburg, Duisburg, Germany
| | - Georg Selzer
- Division of Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive Care, Evangelical Hospital Hamm, Hamm, Germany
| | - Uwe Spille
- Department of General Pediatrics, Herford, Germany
| | - Carsten Thiel
- Department of Pediatrics, St.-Clemens-Hospital Geldern, Geldern, Germany
| | - Ansgar Thimm
- Department of General Pediatrics, Sana-Hospital Remscheid, Remscheid, Germany
| | | | - Alijda van den Heuvel
- Division of Pediatric Intensive Care, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Tan van Hop
- Department of General Pediatrics, Hospital Oberhausen Sterkrade gGmbH, Oberhausen, Germany
| | - Verena Giesen
- Department of General Pediatrics, Bethanien Hospital Moers, Moers, Germany
| | - Stefan Wirth
- Department of Pediatrics, Helios Medical Center Niederberg, Velbert, Germany
| | - Thomas Wollbrink
- Division of Pediatric Intensive Care, Department of Pediatrics, Bergmannsheil Pediatric Hospital Gelsenkirchen Buer, Gelsenkirchen, Germany
| | - Daniel Wüller
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Christophorus Hospital, Coesfeld, Germany
| | - Ursula Felderhoff-Müser
- Department of Pediatrics I (Neonatology, Pediatric Intensive Care, Pediatric Neurology, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Christian Dohna-Schwake
- Department of Pediatrics I (Neonatology, Pediatric Intensive Care, Pediatric Neurology, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Thiên-Trí Lâm
- German National Reference Laboratory for Meningococci and Haemophilus Influenzae, Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Heike Claus
- German National Reference Laboratory for Meningococci and Haemophilus Influenzae, Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Nora Bruns
- Department of Pediatrics I (Neonatology, Pediatric Intensive Care, Pediatric Neurology, and Pediatric Infectious Diseases), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Schlarb P, Büttner JM, Tittel SR, Mönkemöller K, Müller-Godeffroy E, Boettcher C, Galler A, Berger G, Brosig B, Holl RW. Family structures and parents' occupational models: its impact on children's diabetes. Acta Diabetol 2024; 61:235-244. [PMID: 37847378 PMCID: PMC10866793 DOI: 10.1007/s00592-023-02187-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
AIMS This study examines how family-related factors influence the management of children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). We investigate the relationship between family patterns, parental work schedules and metabolic control. MATERIALS AND METHODS We analysed data from a nationwide diabetes survey (DPV) focusing on HbA1c, severe hypoglycaemia, diabetic ketoacidosis, hospital admissions and inpatient treatment duration. We used linear regression and negative binomial regression models. Our study includes 15,340 children under the age of 18 with data on family structure and parental division of labour. RESULTS Children from two-parent households have better HbA1c outcomes than children from single-parent, blended or no-parent households (p < .0001). Higher HbA1C levels are associated with children living with an unemployed father, as opposed to those with full-time working parents or with a full-time working father and a part-time working mother (p < .001). CONCLUSIONS These findings emphasise the importance of carefully considering family structure and working time models in the management of paediatric T1DM. Our results highlight risk factors within the family environment and emphasise the need for family-focused counselling of high-risk patients or severe cases in clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Schlarb
- Centre of Child and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Family- and Child-Psychosomatics, Justus Liebig University, Klinikstrasse 36, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Janina M Büttner
- Centre of Child and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Family- and Child-Psychosomatics, Justus Liebig University, Klinikstrasse 36, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Sascha R Tittel
- ZIBMT, Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, University of Ulm, Albert Einstein Alle 41, 89075, Ulm, Germany
- German Centre for Diabetes Research (DZD), Ingolstädter Landstrasse, 185764, Munich-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Kirsten Mönkemöller
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Kliniken Der Stadt Köln gGmbH, Amsterdamer Strasse 59, 50735, Cologne, Germany
| | - Esther Müller-Godeffroy
- Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University of Luebeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23538, Luebeck, Germany
| | - Claudia Boettcher
- Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, University of Berne, University Children's Hospital, Freiburgstrasse 15, 3010, Berne, Switzerland
| | - Angela Galler
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin, Sozialpädiatrisches Zentrum, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gabriele Berger
- Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Pediatric Diabetes Outpatient Clinic, Health Care Centre Vienna Floridsdorf, Karl-Aschenbrenner-Gasse 3, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Burkhard Brosig
- Centre of Child and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Family- and Child-Psychosomatics, Justus Liebig University, Klinikstrasse 36, 35392, Giessen, Germany.
| | - Reinhard W Holl
- ZIBMT, Institute of Epidemiology and Medical Biometry, University of Ulm, Albert Einstein Alle 41, 89075, Ulm, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Stern D, Meyer TC, Treindl F, Mages HW, Krüger M, Skiba M, Krüger JP, Zobel CM, Schreiner M, Grossegesse M, Rinner T, Peine C, Stoliaroff-Pépin A, Harder T, Hofmann N, Michel J, Nitsche A, Stahlberg S, Kneuer A, Sandoni A, Kubisch U, Schlaud M, Mankertz A, Schwarz T, Corman VM, Müller MA, Drosten C, de la Rosa K, Schaade L, Dorner MB, Dorner BG. A bead-based multiplex assay covering all coronaviruses pathogenic for humans for sensitive and specific surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 humoral immunity. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21846. [PMID: 38071261 PMCID: PMC10710470 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48581-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Serological assays measuring antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 are key to describe the epidemiology, pathobiology or induction of immunity after infection or vaccination. Of those, multiplex assays targeting multiple antigens are especially helpful as closely related coronaviruses or other antigens can be analysed simultaneously from small sample volumes, hereby shedding light on patterns in the immune response that would otherwise remain undetected. We established a bead-based 17-plex assay detecting antibodies targeting antigens from all coronaviruses pathogenic for humans: SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, HCoV strains 229E, OC43, HKU1, and NL63. The assay was validated against five commercial serological immunoassays, a commercial surrogate virus neutralisation test, and a virus neutralisation assay, all targeting SARS-CoV-2. It was found to be highly versatile as shown by antibody detection from both serum and dried blot spots and as shown in three case studies. First, we followed seroconversion for all four endemic HCoV strains and SARS-CoV-2 in an outbreak study in day-care centres for children. Second, we were able to link a more severe clinical course to a stronger IgG response with this 17-plex-assay, which was IgG1 and IgG3 dominated. Finally, our assay was able to discriminate recent from previous SARS-CoV-2 infections by calculating the IgG/IgM ratio on the N antigen targeting antibodies. In conclusion, due to the comprehensive method comparison, thorough validation, and the proven versatility, our multiplex assay is a valuable tool for studies on coronavirus serology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Stern
- Biological Toxins (ZBS 3), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
| | - Tanja C Meyer
- Biological Toxins (ZBS 3), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fridolin Treindl
- Biological Toxins (ZBS 3), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hans Werner Mages
- Biological Toxins (ZBS 3), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maren Krüger
- Biological Toxins (ZBS 3), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Skiba
- Biological Toxins (ZBS 3), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Philipp Krüger
- Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Bundeswehr Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian M Zobel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Bundeswehr Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Marica Grossegesse
- Highly Pathogenic Viruses (ZBS 1), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Rinner
- Highly Pathogenic Viruses (ZBS 1), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Caroline Peine
- Immunization Unit (FG 33), Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Stoliaroff-Pépin
- Immunization Unit (FG 33), Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Harder
- Immunization Unit (FG 33), Department for Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Robert Koch Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Natalie Hofmann
- Highly Pathogenic Viruses (ZBS 1), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Janine Michel
- Highly Pathogenic Viruses (ZBS 1), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Nitsche
- Highly Pathogenic Viruses (ZBS 1), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Silke Stahlberg
- Central Epidemiological Laboratory (FG 22), Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, 12101, Berlin, Germany
| | - Antje Kneuer
- Central Epidemiological Laboratory (FG 22), Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, 12101, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Sandoni
- Central Epidemiological Laboratory (FG 22), Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, 12101, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulrike Kubisch
- Central Epidemiological Laboratory (FG 22), Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, 12101, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Schlaud
- Central Epidemiological Laboratory (FG 22), Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, 12101, Berlin, Germany
| | - Annette Mankertz
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella, and Viruses Affecting Immunocompromised Patients (FG 12), Robert Koch Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tatjana Schwarz
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Victor M Corman
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Corporate Member, Freie Universität Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Corporate Member, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, 14195, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marcel A Müller
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Drosten
- Institute of Virology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kathrin de la Rosa
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Lars Schaade
- Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin B Dorner
- Biological Toxins (ZBS 3), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Brigitte G Dorner
- Biological Toxins (ZBS 3), Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Abdrabou AMM, Sy I, Bischoff M, Arroyo MJ, Becker SL, Mellmann A, von Müller L, Gärtner B, Berger FK. Discrimination between hypervirulent and non-hypervirulent ribotypes of Clostridioides difficile by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and machine learning. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2023; 42:1373-1381. [PMID: 37721704 PMCID: PMC10587247 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-023-04665-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Hypervirulent ribotypes (HVRTs) of Clostridioides difficile such as ribotype (RT) 027 are epidemiologically important. This study evaluated whether MALDI-TOF can distinguish between strains of HVRTs and non-HVRTs commonly found in Europe. Obtained spectra of clinical C. difficile isolates (training set, 157 isolates) covering epidemiologically relevant HVRTs and non-HVRTs found in Europe were used as an input for different machine learning (ML) models. Another 83 isolates were used as a validation set. Direct comparison of MALDI-TOF spectra obtained from HVRTs and non-HVRTs did not allow to discriminate between these two groups, while using these spectra with certain ML models could differentiate HVRTs from non-HVRTs with an accuracy >95% and allowed for a sub-clustering of three HVRT subgroups (RT027/RT176, RT023, RT045/078/126/127). MALDI-TOF combined with ML represents a reliable tool for rapid identification of major European HVRTs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Mohamed Mostafa Abdrabou
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Saarland University, Kirrberger Straße 100, Building 43, D-66421, Homburg, Saar, Germany.
- Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, El Gomhouria Street, Mansoura, 35516, Egypt.
- National Reference Center for Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile, Homburg-Münster-Coesfeld, Germany.
| | - Issa Sy
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Saarland University, Kirrberger Straße 100, Building 43, D-66421, Homburg, Saar, Germany
| | - Markus Bischoff
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Saarland University, Kirrberger Straße 100, Building 43, D-66421, Homburg, Saar, Germany
- National Reference Center for Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile, Homburg-Münster-Coesfeld, Germany
| | - Manuel J Arroyo
- Clover Bioanalytical Software, Av. del Conocimiento, 41, 18016, Granada, Spain
| | - Sören L Becker
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Saarland University, Kirrberger Straße 100, Building 43, D-66421, Homburg, Saar, Germany
| | - Alexander Mellmann
- National Reference Center for Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile, Homburg-Münster-Coesfeld, Germany
- Institute of Hygiene, University of Münster, Robert-Koch-Straße 41, 48149, Münster, Germany
| | - Lutz von Müller
- National Reference Center for Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile, Homburg-Münster-Coesfeld, Germany
- Christophorus Kliniken Coesfeld, Coesfeld, Germany
| | - Barbara Gärtner
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Saarland University, Kirrberger Straße 100, Building 43, D-66421, Homburg, Saar, Germany
- National Reference Center for Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile, Homburg-Münster-Coesfeld, Germany
| | - Fabian K Berger
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Saarland University, Kirrberger Straße 100, Building 43, D-66421, Homburg, Saar, Germany
- National Reference Center for Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile, Homburg-Münster-Coesfeld, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Grill E, Eitze S, De Bock F, Dragano N, Huebl L, Schmich P, Wieler LH, Betsch C. Sociodemographic characteristics determine download and use of a Corona contact tracing app in Germany-Results of the COSMO surveys. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0256660. [PMID: 34473733 PMCID: PMC8412249 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0256660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic mobile health applications indicating risks emerging from close contacts to infected persons have a large potential to interrupt transmission chains by automating contact tracing. Since its dispatch in Germany in June 2020 the Corona Warn App has been downloaded on 25.7 Mio smartphones by February 2021. To understand barriers to download and user fidelity in different sociodemographic groups we analysed data from five consecutive cross-sectional waves of the COVID-19 Snapshot Monitoring survey from June to August 2020. Questions on the Corona Warn App included information on download, use, functionality, usability, and consequences of the app. Of the 4,960 participants (mean age 45.9 years, standard deviation 16.0, 50.4% female), 36.5% had downloaded the Corona Warn App. Adjusted analysis found that those who had downloaded the app were less likely to be female (Adjusted Odds Ratio for men 1.16 95% Confidence Interval [1.02;1.33]), less likely to be younger (Adjusted Odds Ratio for age 18 to 39 0.47 [0.32;0.59] Adjusted Odds Ratio for age 40 to 64 0.57 [0.46;0.69]), less likely to have a lower household income (AOR 0.55 [0.43;0.69]), and more likely to live in one of the Western federal states including Berlin (AOR 2.31 [1.90;2.82]). Willingness to disclose a positive test result and trust in data protection compliance of the Corona Warn App was significantly higher in older adults. Willingness to disclose also increased with higher educational degrees and income. This study supports the hypothesis of a digital divide that separates users and non-users of the Corona Warn App along a well-known health gap of education, income, and region.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eva Grill
- Institute for Medical Information Processing, Biometry and Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians University München, München, Germany
| | - Sarah Eitze
- Media and Communication Science, University of Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany
| | - Freia De Bock
- Federal Centre for Health Education (Bundeszentrale für gesundheitliche Aufklärung (BZgA)), Cologne, Germany
| | - Nico Dragano
- Institute of Medical Sociology, Medical Faculty and University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Lena Huebl
- University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf, I. Department of Medicine, Division Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Cornelia Betsch
- Media and Communication Science, University of Erfurt, Erfurt, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Heise M, Fink A, Baumert J, Heidemann C, Du Y, Frese T, Carmienke S. Patterns and associated factors of diabetes self-management: Results of a latent class analysis in a German population-based study. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0248992. [PMID: 33740024 PMCID: PMC7978380 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Few studies on diabetes self-management considered the patterns and relationships of different self-management behaviours (SMB). The aims of the present study are 1) to identify patterns of SMB among persons with diabetes, 2) to identify sociodemographic and disease-related predictors of SMB among persons with diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS The present analysis includes data of 1,466 persons (age 18 to 99 years; 44.0% female; 56.0% male) with diabetes (type I and II) from the population-based study German Health Update 2014/2015 (GEDA 2014/2015-EHIS). We used latent class analysis in order to distinguish different patterns of self-management behaviours among persons with diabetes. The assessment of SMB was based on seven self-reported activities by respondents (dietary plan, diabetes-diary, diabetes health pass, self-assessment of blood glucose, self-examination of feet, retinopathy-screenings and assessment of HbA1c). Subsequent multinomial latent variable regressions identified factors that were associated with self-management behaviour. RESULTS Latent class analysis suggested a distinction between three patterns of SMB. Based on modal posterior probabilities 42.8% of respondents showed an adherent pattern of diabetes self-management with above-average frequency in all seven indicators of SMB. 32.1% showed a nonadherent pattern with a below-average commitment in all seven forms of SMB. Another 25.1% were assigned to an ambivalent type, which showed to be adherent with regard to retinopathy screenings, foot examinations, and the assessment of HbA1c, yet nonadherent with regard to all other forms of SMB. In multivariable regression analyses, participation in Diabetes Self-Management Education programs (DSME) was the most important predictor of good self-management behaviour (marginal effect = 51.7 percentage points), followed by attentiveness towards one's personal health (31.0 percentage points). Respondents with a duration of illness of less than 10 years (19.5 percentage points), employed respondents (7.5 percentage points), as well as respondents with a high socioeconomic status (24.7 percentage points) were more likely to show suboptimal forms of diabetes self-management. DISCUSSION In the present nationwide population-based study, a large proportion of persons with diabetes showed suboptimal self-management behaviour. Participation in a DSME program was the strongest predictor of good self-management. Results underline the need for continual and consistent health education for patients with diabetes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcus Heise
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Medical Faculty of Martin Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Astrid Fink
- Institute of Medical Sociology, Medical Faculty of Martin Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Jens Baumert
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christin Heidemann
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Yong Du
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Monitoring, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Frese
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Medical Faculty of Martin Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Solveig Carmienke
- Institute of General Practice and Family Medicine, Medical Faculty of Martin Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Werner D, Kowalczyk S, Kampen H. Nine years of mosquito monitoring in Germany, 2011-2019, with an updated inventory of German culicid species. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:2765-2774. [PMID: 32671542 PMCID: PMC7431392 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06775-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Before the background of increasingly frequent outbreaks and cases of mosquito-borne diseases in various European countries, Germany recently realised the necessity of updating decade-old data on the occurrence and spatiotemporal distribution of culicid species. Starting in 2011, a mosquito monitoring programme was therefore launched with adult and immature mosquito stages being collected at numerous sites all over Germany both actively by trapping, netting, aspirating and dipping, and passively by the citizen science project 'Mueckenatlas'. Until the end of 2019, about 516,000 mosquito specimens were analysed, with 52 (probably 53) species belonging to seven genera found, including several species not reported for decades due to being extremely rare (Aedes refiki, Anopheles algeriensis, Culex martinii) or local (Culiseta alaskaensis, Cs. glaphyroptera, Cs. ochroptera). In addition to 43 (probably 44 including Cs. subochrea) out of 46 species previously described for Germany, nine species were collected that had never been documented before. These consisted of five species recently established (Ae. albopictus, Ae. japonicus, Ae. koreicus, An. petragnani, Cs. longiareolata), three species probably introduced on one single occasion only and not established (Ae. aegypti, Ae. berlandi, Ae. pulcritarsis), and a newly described cryptic species of the Anopheles maculipennis complex (An. daciae) that had probably always been present but not been differentiated from its siblings. Two species formerly listed for Germany could not be documented (Ae. cyprius, Ae. nigrinus), while presence is likely for another species (Cs. subochrea), which could not be demonstrated in the monitoring programme as it can neither morphologically nor genetically be reliably distinguished from a closely related species (Cs. annulata) in the female sex. While Cs. annulata males were collected in the present programme, this was not the case with Cs. subochrea. In summary, although some species regarded endemic could not be found during the last 9 years, the number of culicid species that must be considered firmly established in Germany has increased to 51 (assuming Cs. subochrea and Ae. nigrinus are still present) due to several newly emerged ones but also to one species (Ae. cyprius) that must be considered extinct after almost a century without documentation. Most likely, introduction and establishment of the new species are a consequence of globalisation and climate warming, as three of them are native to Asia (Ae. albopictus, Ae. japonicus, Ae. koreicus) and three (Ae. albopictus, An. petragnani, Cs. longiareolata) are relatively thermophilic. Another thermophilic species, Uranotaenia unguiculata, which had been described for southwestern Germany in 1994 and had since been found only at the very site of its first detection, was recently documented at additional localities in the northeastern part of the country. As several mosquito species found in Germany are serious pests or potential vectors of disease agents and should be kept under permanent observation or even be controlled immediately on emergence, the German mosquito monitoring programme has recently been institutionalised and perpetuated.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Doreen Werner
- Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research, Eberswalder Strasse 84, 15374, Muencheberg, Germany.
| | - Stefan Kowalczyk
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| | - Helge Kampen
- Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Greifswald, Insel Riems, Germany
| |
Collapse
|