ABSTRACT
Background Analyzing trends and patterns of vaccination during COVID-19 pandemic is important to understand how current policies are working. Evidence regarding the general population is already available, but hard-to-reach populations as migrants or minorities, but also people suffering from a Substance Use Disorder (SUD), have not been fully explored. To understand the extent of vaccine adherence and evaluate associated factors in this population subgroup, we conducted a cross-sectional study in collaboration with Villa Marini Foundation, national agency of the Italian Red Cross for pathological addictions. Methods We developed a questionnaire regarding COVID-19 vaccination, adherence to prevention measures, concerns about COVID-19 and questions relating to drug use that we administered to each participant. Only people aged over 18 with a diagnosis of SUD were included in the study. A multivariable logistic regression model was built to identify the predictors associated with anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, estimating adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results We recruited 200 participants between December 2021 and January 2022. Most respondents were male (84.5%), Italian (72%), aged 44 years on average. A total of 40 patients (20%) reported they haven't received any dose of COVID-19 vaccine;the most common motivations were lack of trust in the vaccine and fear of side effects. At multivariable analysis, the use of heroin appears to be negatively associated with vaccination acceptance (aOR=0.31 CI 95%: 0.11-0.81) as well as not being Italian (aOR=0.27 CI 95%: 0.12-0.63). Conclusions The vaccination rate in our sample was consistent with the one of the general Italian population in the same period, whereas the reasons behind the lower adherence to vaccination in the heroin group need to be further investigated. It’s also important to reduce possible bureaucratic obstacles that could explain the lower number of vaccinated foreign citizens. Key messages • People with Substance Use Disorder are a fragile and often overlooked population that needs to be considered during Public Health intervention and vaccination campaigns. • The access to vaccination for foreigners should be made more simple and easier to increase accessibility and participation.
ABSTRACT
Background Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are a frequent complication in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Hospital policies caused by COVID-19 pandemic may have played a role in HAIs development. The aim of this study was to describe and characterize over time the occurrence of HAIs in a NICU at the Policlinico Umberto I in Rome both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods All infants of all birth weight (BW) classes with >2 days in the NICU, admitted from January 2018 to December 2021, were included. To assess the effect of the pandemic, we compared surveillance data from 2018-2019 with those from 2020-2021. Infections were defined using standard Centers for Disease Control and Prevention definitions. Results We included 513 infants, 274 admitted in 2018-2019 and 239 between 2020-2021. NICU stay in days was similar in the two periods (14.4 and 15.3 respectively) but the number of patients who died in 2018-2019 (N = 13) was almost double that of 2020-2021 (N = 7). A total of 27 infections were recorded in the post-pandemic period compared to 9 recorded in the previous period, mainly central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) (7% vs 3.0%, p = 0.043), followed by ventilator-associated pneumonias (VAP) (3.0% vs 0.4%, p = 0.019). The incidence density of device-associated infections was higher in patients with lower BW class in both periods analyzed. Different microorganisms were isolated: in 2018-2019 K. pneumoniae (33.3%) and Serratia marcescens (33.3%) were the most found, while S. aureus (29.0%) and Staphylococci coagulase negative (51.6%) were predominant in the following years. Conclusions Results indicate that patient management may have influenced the occurrence of HAIs during the pandemic. This reinforces the importance of the HAI surveillance protocol in the NICU, which monitors microbiologic isolates and medical device use for all classes of infants with BW. Key messages • The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in an increase in healthcare-associated infections occurrence in our neonatal intensive care unit. • Monitoring device-associated infections in all BW classes of infants is critical to prevent nosocomial infections.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The year 2020 was characterized by the outbreak of a new pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2. To face the pandemic, many countries worldwide imposed general lockdowns, closing all non-essential businesses. As primary care services, pharmacies had to remain open, thus putting pharmacy staff at significant risk of viral infection and overwork. This study aimed to assess the mental health of Italian Pharmacists, considering demographic and occupational characteristics, lifestyle, and habits, during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak and the subsequent lockdown period (March-May 2020). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A web-based survey was created using Google® Forms to collect data from March 30, 2020, to June 1, 2020. The questionnaire consisted of three sections investigating: (1) demographic and occupational variables, (2) lifestyle and habits variables, (3) psychological distress and perceived well-being. RESULTS: A total of 401 participants completed the questionnaire. Older workers and those with more work experience reported more psychological stress. Older and female workers, who felt lonely at home and reported psychological stress, perceived poor well-being. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings demonstrate that the Sars-CoV-2 outbreak and subsequent lockdown rules affected pharmacists' mental health and that it is important to put in place preventive measures against the occurrence of mental disorders among them.