scholarly journals Comparing Results of Five SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Assays Before and After the First Dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccine among Health Care Workers

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seri Jeong ◽  
Nuri Lee ◽  
Su Kyung Lee ◽  
Eun-Jung Cho ◽  
Jungwon Hyun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Symptom Severity ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Adverse Reactions ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Antibody Assays ◽  
Paired Serum ◽  
Antibody Levels

Reliable results of serologic positivity of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody before and after AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccination are essential to estimate the efficacy of vaccination. We assessed the positivity rates and associated factors using five SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays. A total of 228 paired serum samples (456 samples) were obtained from 228 participants. After baseline sampling, the second sampling was conducted between 11-28 days after the first dose of AZ. Sera were tested using five SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays, including two surrogate virus neutralization tests. A questionnaire on symptom, severity, and duration of adverse reactions was completed by all participants. The overall positive rates for SARS-CoV-2 antibody were 84.6% for Roche, 92.5% for Abbott, 75.4% for Siemens, 90.7% for SD Biosensor, and 66.2% for GenScript assays after the first dose of AZ vaccination. The positive rates and antibody titer of sera obtained between 21-28 days were significantly higher than those obtained between 11-20 days in all five assays. More severe and longer duration of adverse reactions were related to higher SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels. The agreements and correlations among the applied assays were substantial (к=0.73-0.95) and strong (ρ=0.83-0.91). A single dose of AZ vaccination led to high positivity rates based on the five assays. Days after vaccination and adverse reactions could help estimate serologic conversions. The results should be interpreted cautiously considering the applied assays and cutoffs. Our findings could inform decisions regarding vaccination and laboratory settings and, thus, contribute to the control of the spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

scholarly journals Comparing Five SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Assay Results Before and After the First and Second ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccination Among Health Care Workers: A Prospective Multicenter Study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seri Jeong ◽  
Nuri Lee ◽  
Su Kyung Lee ◽  
Eun-Jung Cho ◽  
Jungwon Hyun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Adverse Reactions ◽  
Neutralizing Antibody ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Prospective Multicenter Study ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Antibody Assays ◽  
Antibody Titers

Reliable results for serologic positivity to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody after the second dose of AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccination are important to estimate the real efficacy of vaccination. We evaluated the positivity rates and the changes of semi-quantitative antibody titers before and after the first and second ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccinations using five SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays, including two surrogate virus neutralization tests. A total of 674 serum samples were obtained from 228 participants during three blood sampling periods. A questionnaire on symptoms, severity and adverse reactions duration was completed after the second vaccination. The overall positive rates for all assays were 0.0-0.9% before vaccination, 66.2-92.5% after the first vaccination, and 98.2-100.0% after the second vaccination. Median antibody titers in five assays after the second dose of vaccination were increased compared to those after the first dose (106.4-fold increase for Roche total antibody, 3.6-fold for Abbott IgG, 3.6-fold for Siemens, 1.2-fold for SD Biosensor V1 neutralizing antibody, and 2.2-fold for GenScript neutralizing antibody). Adverse reactions reduced after the second dose in 89.9% of participants compared to after the first dose. Overall, the second vaccination led to almost 100% positivity rates based on these SARS-CoV-2 antibody assays. The results should be interpreted with caution, considering the characteristics of applied assays. Our findings could inform decisions regarding vaccination and the use of immunoassays, thus, contributing to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic control.

scholarly journals Antibody responses to two recombinant treponemal antigens (rp17 and TmpA) before and after azithromycin treatment for yaws in Ghana and Papua New Guinea.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nishanth Parameswaran ◽  
Oriol Mitjà ◽  
Christian Bottomley ◽  
Cynthia Kwakye ◽  
Wendy Houinei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Rapid Plasma Reagin ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Recent Infection ◽  
Randomized Controlled ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Paired Serum ◽  
Antibody Levels

WHO and its partners aim to interrupt yaws transmission in endemic countries and to certify others as being yaws-free. Transmission can be assessed using rapid plasma reagin (RPR) tests, reflecting current or recent infection, but RPR is operationally impractical. We evaluated changes in antibody levels against two recombinant treponemal antigens, rp17 (also known as Tp17) and TmpA, after antibiotic treatment given as part of a randomized controlled trial for yaws in Ghana and Papua New Guinea. Paired serum samples from children aged 6–15 years with confirmed yaws, collected before and after treatment, were tested for antibodies to rp17 and TmpA using a semi-quantitative bead-based immunoassay. Of 344 baseline samples, 342 tested positive for anti-rp17 antibodies and 337 tested positive for anti-TmpA antibodies. Six months after treatment, the median decrease in anti-rp17 signal was 3.2%, whereas the median decrease in anti-TmpA was 53.8%. The magnitude of change in the anti-TmpA response increased with increasing RPR titer fold-change. These data demonstrate that responses to TmpA decrease markedly within 6 months of treatment whereas (as expected) those to rp17 do not. Incorporating responses to TmpA as a marker of recent infection within an integrated sero-surveillance platform could provide a way to prioritize areas for yaws mapping.

scholarly journals Antibody Persistence 6 Months Post-Vaccination with BNT162b2 among Health Care Workers

Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1125
Author(s):  
Flaminia Campo ◽  
Aldo Venuti ◽  
Fulvia Pimpinelli ◽  
Elva Abril ◽  
Giovanni Blandino ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Antibody Response ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Antibody Persistence ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Open Debate ◽  
Chemiluminescent Immunoassay ◽  
Antibody Levels

Background: We present immunogenicity data 6 months after the first dose of BNT162b2 in correlation with age, gender, BMI, comorbidities and previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: An immunogenicity evaluation was carried out among health care workers (HCW) vaccinated at the Istituti Fisioterapici Ospitalieri (IFO). All HCW were asked to be vaccine by the national vaccine campaign at the beginning of 2021. Serum samples were collected on day 1 just prior to the first dose of the vaccine and on day 21 just prior to the second vaccination dose. Thereafter sera samples were collected 28, 49, 84 and 168 days after the first dose of BNT162b2. Quantitative measurement of IgG antibodies against S1/S2 antigens of SARS-CoV-2 was performed with a commercial chemiluminescent immunoassay. Results: Two hundred seventy-four HWCs were analyzed, 175 women (63.9%) and 99 men (36.1%). The maximum antibody geometric mean concentration (AbGMC) was reached at T2 (299.89 AU/mL; 95% CI: 263.53–339.52) with a significant increase compared to baseline (p < 0.0001). Thereafter, a progressive decrease was observed. At T5, a median decrease of 59.6% in COVID-19 negative, and of 67.8% in COVID-19 positive individuals were identified with respect to the highest antibody response. At T1, age and previous COVID-19 were associated with differences in antibody response, while at T2 and T3 differences in immune response were associated with age, gender and previous COVID-19. At T4 and T5, only COVID-19 positive participants demonstrated a greater antibody response, whereas no other variables seemed to influence antibody levels. Conclusions: Overall our study clearly shows antibody persistence at 6 months, albeit with a certain decline. Thus, the use of this vaccine in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic is supported by our results that in turn open debate about the need for further boosts.

scholarly journals Persistence of antibodies against Spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 in health care workers post double dose of BBV-152 and AZD1222 vaccines

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hari Ram Choudhary ◽  
Debaprasad Parai ◽  
Girish Chandra Dash ◽  
Jaya Singh Kshatri ◽  
Narayan Mishra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Igg Antibody ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Post Vaccination ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
History Of ◽  
Heath Care ◽  
Antibody Levels

Abstract Rationale: Vaccine rollout in India was initiated in mid-January, 2021 and is supposed to be the only antidote against SARS-CoV-2 as of now.Objectives: To study the dynamicity of vaccine-induced IgG antibody against SARS-CoV-2.Methodology: The present cross-sectional cohort study was undertaken to determine IgG antibody among health care workers with completed dose of either Covaxin or Covishield and were followed for 24 weeks after first dose of either vaccine to record the periodic changes in titre, concentration, clinical growth and persistence of vaccine-induced SARS-CoV-2 antibodies.Results: Serum samples were collected from 614 participants during each follow-up and tested them in two CLIA-based platforms for testing SARS-CoV-2 antibodies both qualitatively and quantitatively. Among these participants, 308 (50.2%) were Covishield recipient and rest 306 (49.8%) took Covaxin. A total of 81 breakthrough cases was recorded among the cohort participants for whom infection post vaccination acted as booster. The rest 533 heath care workers without any history of post-vaccination infection showed significant antibody waning either from T3 (Covaxin recipient) or T4 (Covishield recipient).Conclusion: The clinical implications of waning antibody levels post vaccination are not well understood, and it remains crucial to establish S-antibody thresholds associated with protection against clinical outcomes.

Health-Care Workers’ Perception of Reimbursement for Complex Surgical Oncology Procedures

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-145
Author(s):  
Shoshana Levi ◽  
Emily Alberto ◽  
Dakota Urban ◽  
Nicholas Petrelli ◽  
Gregory Tiesi
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Surgical Oncology ◽  
Patient Perceptions ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Physician Reimbursement ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Fee Schedule

Perception of physician reimbursement for surgical procedures is not well studied. The few existing studies illustrate that patients believe compensation to be higher than in reality. These studies focus on patient perceptions and have not assessed health-care workers’ views. Our study examined health-care workers’ perception of reimbursement for complex surgical oncology procedures. An anonymous online survey was distributed to employees at our cancer center with descriptions and illustrations of three oncology procedures—hepatectomy, gastrectomy, and pancreaticoduodenectomy. Participants estimated the Medicare fee and gave their perceived value of each procedure. Participants recorded their perception of surgeon compensation overall, both before and after revealing the Medicare fee schedule. Most of the 113 participants were physicians (33.6%) and nurses (28.3%). When blinded to the Medicare fee schedules, most felt that reimbursements were too low for all procedures (60–64%) and that surgeons were overall undercompensated (57%). Value predictions for each procedure were discordant from actual Medicare fee schedules, with overestimates up to 374 per cent. After revealing the Medicare fee schedules, 55 per cent of respondents felt that surgeons were undercompensated. Even among health-care workers, a large discrepancy exists between perceived and actual reimbursement. Revealing actual reimbursements did not alter perception on overall surgeon compensation.

scholarly journals Incidence of COVID-19 Infection in Hospital Workers From March 1, 2020 to May 31, 2021 Routinely Tested, Before and After Vaccination With BNT162B2

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesca Larese Filon ◽  
Francesca Rui ◽  
Federico Ronchese ◽  
Paola Michieli ◽  
Corrado Negro
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Hospital Workers ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Polymerase Chain ◽  
Incident Rate ◽  
Rate Ratios ◽  
Monthly Incidence

Abstract Objective To evaluate the incidence of COVID-19 infection in health care workers from the start of COVID-19 pandemic in NE of Italy, to the vaccination with BNT162b2. Materials and methods This was a retrospective cohort study. Health care workers were routinely tested for SARS-CoV-2 infections using real-time polymerase chain reaction tests in nasopharyngeal swabs. Logistic regression was used to calculate incident rate ratios (IRRs) of factors associated to COVID-19. Results A total of 4251 workers were followed-up and an annual incidence of COVID-19 of 13.6% was found. In March 2021 the incidence of infection was 4.88 and 103.55 cases for 100.000 person-days in vaccinated and non-vaccinated workers, respectively, with an adjusted IRRs of 0.05 (95% CI 0.02–0.08). Conclusions Our study evaluated the monthly incidence in health care workers in Trieste hospitals before and after the vaccination finding the protective effect of BNT162B2 vaccine in 95% of health care workers routinely tested.

scholarly journals Burnout syndrome among health care workers is associated with violence against them. What needs to be done?

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elhadi Awooda
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
The Other ◽  
Burnout Syndrome ◽  
High Expectations ◽  
Global Issue ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Radical Solution

Background: During SARS-CoV2 pandemic, patients are becoming more aggressive against health care workers when seeking their demands. Violence against Health care workers is of multifactor, and a one that strongly has associated is their burnout syndrome. Objectives: The aim of this study was to draw a conclusion from the previous literatures about the association of violence against HCWs and their burnout syndrome. Also to find out other associated factors and solutions for this phenomenon. Results:  HCWs are subjected to stressful situations and high pressure; of highly infectious diseases (SARS-CoV2), shortage of PPE, working for more than 24 hours’ duty, without payment or reward, difficulties in the workplace and a poor hospital administration; all’s can lead to burnout syndrome. On the other hand, patient’s demand for the high expectations of their needs and attendants' (co-patients) fearfulness, anxiousness about their patient fate. Also, patient or co-patients believes on a doctor to be the only savior, so any unexpected behavior or un sympathy from the burned-out HCWs can result in aggressiveness and violence. Conclusion: The high prevalence of burnout syndrome among HCWs has become a global issue. A real attempt should be made focusing on the radical solution of the problem of burnout syndrome, rather than to enact laws to punish the aggressors against HCWs.

INVESTIGATION OF SEROPREVALENCE OF IgG ANTIBODIES AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN VIRAL RESEARCH AND DIAGNOSTIC LABORATORY, AMRITSAR

2021 ◽  
pp. 63-65
Author(s):  
Vaibhav Chawla ◽  
Amandeep Kaur ◽  
Arashdeep Kaur ◽  
Kanwardeep Singh ◽  
Shailpreet Kaur Sidhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Data Entry ◽  
Risk Exposure ◽  
Government Medical College ◽  
Igg Antibodies ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Diagnostic Laboratory ◽  
Medical College ◽  
Care Workers

Health care workers constitute the group of people who take care of COVID-19 patients. Thus, they are highly vulnerable to contract SARS-CoV-2 infection and pose a great threat to co-workers and general public. Seroprevalence studies are an important tool to monitor the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and assess the level of exposure among HCWs. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the seroprevalence of IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 among Health Care Workers. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was conducted at Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Government Medical College, st th Amritsar for a period from 1 December 2020 to 15 January 2021. During this period, 90 blood samples were collected from the healthcare workers from Department of Microbiology and Viral Research and Diagnostic Laboratory, Government Medical College, Amritsar. Serum samples were separated and used for detection of Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies by ELISA technique. Results: Out of the 90 samples, 31 (34.44%) were found to be positive. Higher number of males 24 (26.67%) and lesser number of females 7 (7.78%) were observed with seropositivity. Out of the total participants in the study, 45.16% of laboratory supporting personnel, 19.35% of junior residents followed by housekeeping staff (12.90%), data entry operators (9.67%), consultants (6.45%) and Senior Residents/Research Scientists (6.45%) were observed to be IgG positive. It was also seen that in high risk exposure category 27.78% were seropositive and in low risk exposure group only 6.67% were seropositive and the difference between two groups was statistically signicant (p<0.000). Conclusion: High seropositivity was observed among health care workers due to their nature of work as frontline workers

Healthcare Workers’ Mobile Phones as a Possible Vehicle of Nosocomial Pathogens and the Role of Different Disinfectants in their Decontamination

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 29-36
Author(s):  
Rana E. Elgabeery ◽  
Radwa A. Eissa ◽  
Sohair M. Soliman ◽  
Naglaa F. Ghoname
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Colony Count ◽  
Drug Resistant ◽  
University Hospitals ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Before And After

Background: As Mobile Phones (MPs) aren’t cleaned routinely and have been touched during patient’s examination, they may become contaminated with hospital pathogens. Objectives: Screen MPs of Health care workers (HCWs) for pathogens and verify the effect of disinfectants in their decontamination. Methods: A questionnaire was submitted by 160 HCWs in Tanta University Hospitals. Samples were taken from their MPs and subjected to pour plate counting before and after disinfection. Standard identification and antibiotic susceptibility of isolates were done. Results: Colony count was greater in MPs used while caring for patients or inside restroom, and was less in regularly cleaned MPs. All tested disinfectants reduced the colony count significantly. Pathogens were isolated from 84.38% of samples and 36.25% of them were Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms (MDROs). Conclusion: Using MPs at critical care areas and restroom may contribute to their contamination with pathogens. Regular disinfection of MPs can reduce this contamination.

Level of physical activity and its correlates among health care workers in Ethiopia, 2019

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tigist Demssew Adane ◽  
Birhan Gebresillassie Gebregiorgis ◽  
Elda Mekonnen Nigussie ◽  
Abate Dargie Wubetu
Keyword(s):  
Physical Activity ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
P Value ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Study Participants

Abstract Background These days, engaging at sufficient regular physical activity strongly recommended for good health and physical functioning. Physical activity can increase the self-confidence of the health professionals and they would become fit for daily activities with patients. Knowing the level of physical activity can help health care professionals to plan for physical activity programs. This study aimed to measure the level of physical activity and associated factors among adult health professionals at Tirunesh Beijing general hospital.Objective The aim of this study was to assess the level of physical activity and associated factors among health care workers in Ethiopia, 2019.Methods Institution based cross-sectional study conducted level of physical activity and associated factors among health care workers in Ethiopia, 2019. Two hundred nighty seven adult health professionals were participated, which was a 97.4% response rate. The global physical activity questionnaire used to measure the level of physical activity. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression analyses was done to affirm the variables characteristics. A predictor variable with a p-value of less than 0.2 exported to multivariate analysis. During multivariate analysis, statistical significance declared at a p-value of < 0.05.Results In general, the majority of the study participants, 89.2% (95% CI: 85.9-92.6) were achieved recommended levels of physical activity. Regarding the intensity of the physical activity, the overall mean time score was 518.4 mints per week or 2352.6 MET/week. For moderate-intensity physical activity, 83.5% of the study participants were physically active, (≥150 minutes/week). In the case of vigorous activity, about 32.7% of the study participants were physically active and engaged in vigorous physical activity (≥75 minutes /week). The study participants, who had self-motivation for physical activity, had a BMI of less than 25 kg/m2 and aged < 40 years were physically active.Conclusions Health care providers’ habit of physical activity improved as compared with the previous studies. However, the current level of physical activity of health professionals is not adequate. Health care providers’ age, body mass index and self-motivation attribute to physical activity. The level of physical activity can increase by enhancing staff motivation towards physical activity.

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