ABSTRACT
Purpose: The pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) might be curtailed by vaccination. We assessed the safety, and immunogenicity of Covishield vaccine among Health care workers (HCWs) in a tertiary cardiac care centre. Methods: It's a prospective analytical study, conducted at Sri Jayadeva Institute of cardiovascular science and research centre, Mysore, between January 2021 to May 2021. Pre and Post vaccination SARS CoV2 IgG antibodies were assessed among 122 HCWs. Interval between two doses in this study were 4 and 6 weeks. Adverse events following immunisation b(AEFI) and efficacy were assessed and followed up for two month post vaccination. Results: Post vaccination seropositivity was 69.67% in overall study participants. Seropositivity and P/N ratio median value in uninfected and infected group were 60.43% (n ¼ 55),3.47 (IQR: 2.56–5.22) and 96.77% (n ¼ 30),9.49 (IQR: 7.57–12.30) respectively (P < 0.001). Seropositivity and P/N ratio after 4 and 6 weeks were 48.3% (n ¼ 60), 2.95 (IQR: 1.91–4.24), and 83.8% (n ¼ 31), 4.88, (IQR: 3.39–6.43) respectively (P < 0.001). AEFI after first and second dose was 72.9% and 27.8% (p < 0.05) respectively. The most common symptoms after both doses of vaccination were local pain (73% & 88.2%), followed by fever (38.2% & 26.5%). The average duration of symptoms in both doses was 1.75 days. Of 122 participants only 10 (8.19%) had breakthrough infection after two doses of vaccination with mild severity. Conclusion: Covishield vaccine has showed seropositivity of 69.67%.It has acceptable level of safety profile. Seropositivity and P/N ratio has increased with increase in interval between two doses. Though it has not prevented breakthrough infection it has certainly reduced the severity of infection.
ABSTRACT
The aim of the study was to investigate probable carrier rate of the healthcare workers and screened for carriers of MRSA as they could pose a potential risk factor for nosocomial transmission when the same carrier are exposed to the hospital setting during their clinical postings. A total of 100 nasal swabs were collected from the nursing staff and doctors. Sterile cotton swabs moistened with glucose broth were used for sample collection. Swabs were cultured on to nutrient agar, blood agar, and mannitol salt agar, incubated at 35 °C for 48 hrs. Staphylococcus aureus was identified by standard methods according to CLSI guidelines. Methicillin resistance was detected by using cefoxitin disc 30pgm on Mueller Hinton agar with 4% NaCL Of the 100 samples screened 30(30%) strains of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated, out of which 16 (53.33%) were Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and 14 (46.66%) were methicillin sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA). The overall carriage rate of methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus in our study was 16% with the highest rate being seen among the nursing staff (19.35%) and clinical staff carriage rate was lesser (10.52%) as compared to the nursing staff. Chest department samples showed higher carriage rate (33.33%) followed by pediatrics department (28.57%). The present study revealed that HCWs who have contact with patients are at risk of acquisition and colonization with antimicrobial resistant bacteria especially MRSA. Transient hand colonization is the primary mean of cross transmission. Simply education of HCWs on hygienic measures especially proper hand wash is the key to overcome MRSA infection in ICUs.