Screening for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthcare workers in a university hospital in southern France

Background: Thyroid diseases occur more frequently in people exposed to ionizing radiation, but the relationship between occupational exposure to ionizing radiation and thyroid pathologies still remains unclear. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of thyroid diseases in healthcare workers exposed to low-level ionizing radiation compared with a control group working at the University Hospital of Bari, Southern Italy, and living in the same geographical area, characterized by mild iodine deficiency. Methods: We ran a cross-sectional study to investigate whether healthcare workers exposed to ionizing radiation had a higher prevalence of thyroid diseases. Four hundred and forty-four exposed healthcare workers (241 more exposed, or “A Category”, and 203 less exposed, or “B Category”) and 614 nonexposed healthcare workers were enrolled during a routine examination at the Occupational Health Unit. They were asked to fill in an anamnestic questionnaire and undergo a physical examination, serum determination of fT3, fT4 and TSH, anti-TPO ab and anti-TG ab and ultrasound neck scan. Thyroid nodules were submitted to fine needle aspiration biopsy when indicated. Results: The prevalence of thyroid diseases was statistically higher in the exposed workers compared to controls (40% vs 29%, adPR 1.65; IC95% 1.34-2.07). In particular, the thyroid nodularity prevalence in the exposed group was approximately twice as high as that in the controls (29% vs 13%; adPR 2.83; IC95% 2.12-3.8). No statistically significant association was found between exposure to ionizing radiation and other thyroid diseases. Conclusion: In our study, mild ionizing radiation-exposed healthcare workers had a statistically higher prevalence of thyroid diseases than the control group. The results are likely due to a closer and more meticulous health surveillance programme carried out in the ionising radiation-exposed workers, allowing them to identify thyroid alterations earlier than non-exposed health staff.

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Preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the emergency department by implementing a separate pathway for patients with respiratory conditions

Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine ◽

10.1515/jcim-2020-0422 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Fulwah Alqahtani ◽

Marzouqah Alanazi ◽

Wajdan Alassaf ◽

Fadilah Sfouq Aleanizy ◽

Muna Aljahany ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Emergency Department ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Control Measures ◽

University Hospital ◽

Respiratory Pathway ◽

Infection Control Measures ◽

Separate Pathway ◽

Respiratory Conditions

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to describe the development and implementation of a separated pathway to check and treat patients with a suspected/confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the emergency department (ED) at King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz University Hospital in Riyadh. Methods We conducted a retrospective, descriptive longitudinal study from March to July 2020 by analyzing data of all confirmed cases of COVID-19 among ED visitors and healthcare workers in King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz University Hospital. Results During the study period, a total of 1,182 swab samples were collected for testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), of which 285 (24.1%) tested positive. Of the 285 cases of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, 18 were healthcare workers and 267 were patients. As a result of using the respiratory pathway for COVID-19 patients, the hospital managed to limit transmission of SARS-CoV-2 not only between patients but also between patients and healthcare workers, while also containing the pandemic. There were no cases of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infection recorded among the patients who visited the ED or the flu clinic. All confirmed cases were community acquired and patients were cared for under constrained measures. Conclusions Implementing infection control measures and restricting those with respiratory symptoms to the ED pathway prevented nosocomial spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the ED.

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Burnout of Healthcare Workers amid the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Japanese Cross-Sectional Survey

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18052434 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (5) ◽

pp. 2434

Author(s):

Yoshito Nishimura ◽

Tomoko Miyoshi ◽

Hideharu Hagiya ◽

Yoshinori Kosaki ◽

Fumio Otsuka

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Workers ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Healthcare Delivery ◽

General Medicine ◽

Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽

University Hospital ◽

Survey Study ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

The Past

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) global pandemic has drastically changed how we live and work. Amid the prolonged pandemic, burnout of the frontline healthcare professionals has become a significant concern. We conducted a cross-sectional survey study to provide data about the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and the prevalence of burnout in healthcare professionals in Japan. Healthcare workers in a single Japanese national university hospital participated in the survey, including basic demographics, whether a participant engaged in care of COVID-19 patients in the past 2 weeks and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Of those, 25.4% fully answered the survey; 33.3% were doctors and 63.6% were nurses, and 36.3% engaged in care of COVID-19 patients in the past 2 weeks. Compared to those belonging to General Medicine, those in Emergency Intensive Care Unit were at higher risk of burnout (odds ratio (OR), 6.7; 95% CI, 1.1–42.1; p = 0.031). Of those who engaged in care of COVID-19 patients, 50% reported burnout while 6.1% did not (OR 8.5, 95% CI; 1.3–54.1; p = 0.014). The burnout of healthcare workers is a significant concern amid the pandemic, which needs to be addressed for sustainable healthcare delivery.

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SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Healthcare Workers in Germany: A Follow-Up Study

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18094540 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (9) ◽

pp. 4540

Author(s):

Johannes Korth ◽

Benjamin Wilde ◽

Sebastian Dolff ◽

Jasmin Frisch ◽

Michael Jahn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Risk ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Risk Group ◽

Close Contact ◽

Virus Transmission ◽

High Risk Group ◽

Low Risk ◽

University Hospital ◽

Intermediate Risk ◽

Igg Antibody

SARS-CoV-2 is a worldwide challenge for the medical sector. Healthcare workers (HCW) are a cohort vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection due to frequent and close contact with COVID-19 patients. However, they are also well trained and equipped with protective gear. The SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibody status was assessed at three different time points in 450 HCW of the University Hospital Essen in Germany. HCW were stratified according to contact frequencies with COVID-19 patients in (I) a high-risk group with daily contacts with known COVID-19 patients (n = 338), (II) an intermediate-risk group with daily contacts with non-COVID-19 patients (n = 78), and (III) a low-risk group without patient contacts (n = 34). The overall seroprevalence increased from 2.2% in March–May to 4.0% in June–July to 5.1% in October–December. The SARS-CoV-2 IgG detection rate was not significantly different between the high-risk group (1.8%; 3.8%; 5.5%), the intermediate-risk group (5.1%; 6.3%; 6.1%), and the low-risk group (0%, 0%, 0%). The overall SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence remained low in HCW in western Germany one year after the outbreak of COVID-19 in Germany, and hygiene standards seemed to be effective in preventing patient-to-staff virus transmission.

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Adherence to personal protective equipment use among healthcare workers caring for confirmed COVID-19 and alleged non-COVID-19 patients

Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control ◽

10.1186/s13756-020-00864-w ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Meike M. Neuwirth ◽

Frauke Mattner ◽

Robin Otchwemah

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

University Hospital ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Care Workers

AbstractAdherence observations of health care workers (HCW) revealed deficiencies in the use of recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) among HCW caring in COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 wards during the first period of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in a university hospital in Germany. The adherence to wearing surgical face or FFP2-masks and disinfecting hands prior to donning and after doffing the PPE was significantly higher in COVID-19 wards However, there was no total adherence of 100% in COVID-19 wards.

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Willingness of Taiwan’s Healthcare Workers and Outpatients to Vaccinate against COVID-19 during a Period without Community Outbreaks

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9030246 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. 246

Author(s):

Shikha Kukreti ◽

Mei-Yun Lu ◽

Yi-Hsuan Lin ◽

Carol Strong ◽

Chung-Ying Lin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Perception ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Online Survey ◽

Rapid Test ◽

University Hospital ◽

Preventive Behaviors ◽

Vaccination Uptake ◽

Community Outbreaks ◽

To Receive ◽

Significant Factors

To control the spread of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), COVID-19 vaccination has been quickly developed. However, the COVID-19 pandemic will not be controlled if the COVID-19 vaccination uptake willingness is low. Therefore, the study aim was to explore the COVID-19 vaccination uptake willingness among the outpatient population and healthcare workers in Taiwan during the worldwide pandemic period without community outbreaks. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among healthcare workers (HCWs; n = 500; mean age = 32.96 years) of National Cheng Kung University Hospital (NCKUH) and outpatients (n = 238; mean age = 34.43 years) arriving at NCKUH. We used an online survey conducted between September 24 and 21 November 2020, for healthcare workers, and between 27 October and 31 December 2020, for the outpatient sample. Information regarding willingness to receive vaccination, willingness to rapid test, fear of COVID-19, risk perception, and preventive behaviors was collected in both samples; information regarding willingness to care for patients was collected in healthcare workers. Willingness to receive vaccination was the main variable in the present study; willingness to rapid test, willingness to care for patients, fear of COVID-19, risk perception, and preventive behaviors were the secondary variables in the study. The factors associated with vaccination willingness were identified through logistic regression analysis. The participants’ willingness to receive vaccination was low for both healthcare workers (23.4%) and the outpatient sample (30.7%). Similarly, their willingness to take rapid tests was low (23.6% for healthcare workers and 28.6% for outpatient sample). Risk perception (crude odds ratio (COR) = 1.29; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.03, 1.63), willingness to take rapid test (COR = 9.24; 95% CI = 5.76, 14.83), and preventive COVID-19 infection behaviors (COR = 2.32; 95% CI = 1.52, 3.56) were significant factors explaining the healthcare workers’ willingness to receive vaccination. Willingness to take a rapid test (COR = 8.91; 95% CI = 4.71, 16.87) and preventive COVID-19 infection behaviors (COR = 1.69; 95% CI = 1.09, 2.60) were significant factors explaining the outpatient sample’s willingness to receive vaccination. Willingness to vaccinate against COVID-19 among HCWs and outpatients is low due to the relatively safe status of COVID-19 infection in Taiwan. These findings can help policymakers advocate for the effectiveness of and provide transparent information on COVID-19 vaccination uptake in a country/region with a relatively safe COVID-19 outbreak status.

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Genomic epidemiology reveals multiple introductions of SARS-CoV-2 followed by community and nosocomial spread, Germany, February to May 2020

Eurosurveillance ◽

10.2807/1560-7917.es.2021.26.43.2002066 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (43) ◽

Author(s):

Maximilian Muenchhoff ◽

Alexander Graf ◽

Stefan Krebs ◽

Caroline Quartucci ◽

Sandra Hasmann ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Workers ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Local Level ◽

University Hospital ◽

Metropolitan Region ◽

Viral Genomes ◽

Genomic Epidemiology ◽

Viral Spread ◽

Spatio Temporal

Background In the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, viral genomes are available at unprecedented speed, but spatio-temporal bias in genome sequence sampling precludes phylogeographical inference without additional contextual data. Aim We applied genomic epidemiology to trace SARS-CoV-2 spread on an international, national and local level, to illustrate how transmission chains can be resolved to the level of a single event and single person using integrated sequence data and spatio-temporal metadata. Methods We investigated 289 COVID-19 cases at a university hospital in Munich, Germany, between 29 February and 27 May 2020. Using the ARTIC protocol, we obtained near full-length viral genomes from 174 SARS-CoV-2-positive respiratory samples. Phylogenetic analyses using the Auspice software were employed in combination with anamnestic reporting of travel history, interpersonal interactions and perceived high-risk exposures among patients and healthcare workers to characterise cluster outbreaks and establish likely scenarios and timelines of transmission. Results We identified multiple independent introductions in the Munich Metropolitan Region during the first weeks of the first pandemic wave, mainly by travellers returning from popular skiing areas in the Alps. In these early weeks, the rate of presumable hospital-acquired infections among patients and in particular healthcare workers was high (9.6% and 54%, respectively) and we illustrated how transmission chains can be dissected at high resolution combining virus sequences and spatio-temporal networks of human interactions. Conclusions Early spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Europe was catalysed by superspreading events and regional hotspots during the winter holiday season. Genomic epidemiology can be employed to trace viral spread and inform effective containment strategies.

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Fostering Flu Vaccination in Healthcare Workers: Forum Theatre in a University Hospital

Medical Science Monitor ◽

10.12659/msm.903009 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 23 ◽

pp. 4574-4578 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Alice Corsaro ◽

Andrea Poscia ◽

Chiara de Waure ◽

Concetta De Meo ◽

Filippo Berloco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Healthcare Workers ◽

University Hospital ◽

Forum Theatre ◽

Flu Vaccination

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P.0641 Mental health status of the intensive care unit healthcare workers in an university hospital at the beginning of COVID-19 pandemic

European Neuropsychopharmacology ◽

10.1016/j.euroneuro.2021.10.605 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 53 ◽

pp. S471-S472

Author(s):

C. Ozgunduz ◽

M. Bıçakçıoğlu ◽

A. Tutak ◽

A. Ozgunduz

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Health Status ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Mental Health Status ◽

University Hospital

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The impact of the 2009 influenza A(H1N1) pandemic on attitudes of healthcare workers toward seasonal influenza vaccination 2010/11

Eurosurveillance ◽

10.2807/ese.16.17.19854-en ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 16 (17) ◽

Author(s):

C Brandt ◽

H F Rabenau ◽

S Bornmann ◽

R Gottschalk ◽

S Wicker

Keyword(s):

Medical Students ◽

Influenza Vaccine ◽

Influenza Vaccination ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Influenza A ◽

Influenza Season ◽

University Hospital ◽

The Public ◽

Influenza A H1n1 ◽

The Impact

The emergence of the influenza A(H1N1)2009 virus provided a major challenge to health services around the world. However, vaccination rates for the public and for healthcare workers (HCWs) have remained low. We performed a study to review the reasons put forward by HCWs to refuse immunisation with the pandemic vaccine in 2009/10 and characterise attitudes in the influenza season 2010/11 due to the emergence of influenza A(H1N1)2009. A survey among HCWs and medical students in the clinical phase of their studies was conducted, using an anonymous questionnaire, at a German university hospital during an influenza vaccination campaign. 1,366 of 3,900 HCWs (35.0%) were vaccinated in the 2010/11 influenza season. Of the vaccinated HCWs, 1,323 (96.9%) completed the questionnaire in addition to 322 vaccinated medical students. Of the 1,645 vaccinees who completed the questionnaire, 712 had not been vaccinated against the influenza A(H1N1)2009 virus in the 2009/10 season. The main reason put forward was the objection to the AS03 adjuvants (239/712, 33.6%). Of the HCWs and students surveyed, 270 of 1,645 (16.4%) stated that the pandemic had influenced their attitude towards vaccination in general. Many German HCWs remained unconvinced of the safety of the pandemic (adjuvanted) influenza vaccine. For this reason, effective risk communication should focus on educating the public and HCWs about influenza vaccine safety and the benefits of vaccination.

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