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Introduction: Studies are showing that a high antibody response increases the protection against variants in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between antibody response and side effects based on the number of doses administered to healthcare workers who were vaccinated against COVID-19. Material(s) and Method(s): Healthcare workers, who were vaccinated with two doses of BNT162b2 (Group 1), a single dose of BNT162b2 following two doses of CoronaVac (Group 2), or two doses of BNT162b2 following two doses of CoronaVac (Group 3), were randomly assigned to this study. Serum samples were taken from the participants 30 +/- 2 days after the last vaccination date, and the SARSCoV- 2 anti-spike S1 RBD IgG test was administered to these samples. A questionnaire was conducted detailing the demographics of the patients as well as their post-vaccination complaints. The results were analyzed statistically. Analysis results with a p-value of <0.05 were considered significant. Result(s): A total of 179 healthcare professionals with a mean age of 41.7 +/- 10.6 years were included in our study. Of the studied samples, 95.5% (n= 171) were interpreted as anti-spike S1 RBD IgG seropositive. Positivity rates and mean antibody levels were 93.2%, 95.9%, 97.8%, and 107.4 +/- 117.1, 152.7 +/- 108.5, 201.4 +/- 114.9 (AU/mL) for Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3, respectively (p< 0.05). In general, no significant differences in antibody response were seen based on gender or age. However, a significant correlation was found between the occurrence of vaccine-related side effects and antibody titer (p< 0.001). The most common side effect was pain in the area where the vaccine was administered, with a rate of 77.4% (n= 48). More vaccine-related side effects were reported in participants under the age of 40 and in female healthcare workers. Conclusion(s): We believe that booster doses are effective for increasing the immune response and thus protecting against COVID-19. More extensive research should be conducted to confirm the link between the occurrence of vaccine-related side effects and antibody titer. Furthermore, studies on the safety of increasing the number of vaccine doses are required.Copyright © 2023 Bilimsel Tip Yayinevi. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Objective: All resources of the health system have been allocated to the pandemic to combat the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic that has affected the world. In addition, measures implemented during the pandemic, such as isolation, lockdown and restricted mobility, adversely affected tuberculosis (TB) control programs in our country and around the world. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on TB patients and TB control program in Mersin province. Methods: In this study, a total 6328 samples of 3731 patients with a preliminary diagnosis of TB, from Mersin University Hospital and Mersin tuberculosis dispensaries, between January 2019 and December 2020, were included. In the study, how much the number of samples decreased during the 2020 pandemic period, the number of patients diagnosed with TB, the change in the age distribution of the patients, and the number of control samples from the treatment follow-up of TB patients were examined. Results: In the study, a decrease of 42.2% in the number of patients and a decrease of 45.4% in the number of samples were observed during the pandemic period of 2020.The highest decrease in the number of patients by months were observed in March, April and May (respectively 44.2%, 67.2% and 69.8%) when the pandemic started in our country and the restrictions were applied intensively. During the pandemic period, a decrease of 28.2% was observed in the number of TB positive patients. While the mean age of TB positive patients was 53.5±16.2 in 2019, it decreased to 40.3±19.6 years in 2020, and the decrease in the mean age was statistically significant (p <0.001). When the age groups between years are compared;While the rate of patients over 65 years of age was higher in 2019, the rate of patients under the age of 18 was found to be higher in 2020 (p=0.003). In the study, control samples came during treatment follow-up from 73% of TB patients in 2019 and 52.9% in 2020. The rate of decrease in the number of patients with control samples from TB positive patients during the pandemic period was found to be statistically significant (p=0.021). Conclusion: The findings of our study revealed that the restrictions applied during the pandemic period adversely affected the diagnosis and follow-up of TB in our region. In addition, the decrease in the average age of TB patients and the tendency towards younger age and the increase in the number of positive patients under the age of 18 suggest that intra-familial transmission increased in this period. © 2022,Turk Hijyen ve Deneysel Biyoloji Dergisi,All rights reserved
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INTRODUCTION: During the coronavirus infectious disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, healthcare workers are the occupational group most affected by SARS-CoV-2. Infection of healthcare workers with SARS-CoV-2 poses a potential risk of infection for other healthcare workers, patients and their families. The viral load measure in the sample is determined as the cycle threshold (Ct) with the RT-qPCR method. It has been reported that the RT-qPCR Ct value may be related to the severity and potential contagiousness of the infection. In this study, it was aimed to evaluate the relationships between socio-demographic factors, COVID-19 symptoms and Ct value in SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR positive healthcare workers. METHODS: In this study, 300 healthcare workers with positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR test were included. SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR test was performed from nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swab samples with Bio-speedy SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR (Bioeksen, Turkey) kit. The RT-qPCR Ct value results of healthcare staff patients were classified as low, medium and high, socio-demographic characteristics and the risk of viral spread was evaluated. RESULTS: The rate of those who showed at least one symptom among the 300 health personnel included in the study was 88.3% (n=265) and the most common symptoms were muscle-joint pain 39.7%, fatigue 33% and sore throat 30.7%. The median RT-qPCR Ct value was determined as 23.17(19.3-29.4) and Ct value was found to be low (<24.0) in 59% of healthcare personnel. In addition, the Ct value of the personnel working in the administrative units was found to be lower than those working in the COVID-19 polyclinic, service and intensive care unit (p=0.020). Those who had fever and at least one of the COVID-19 symptom (fever, cough, respiratory distress) group had a lower Ct value than those who did not (p=0.008, p=0.019, respectively). When the possible source of transmission was evaluated, it was determined that 22% of the health personnel were infected during patient care, 21% from other health personnel and 23.3% from non-hospital sources. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Our results have shown that most of the SARS-CoV-2 transmission seen in healthcare workers occurs within the hospital, but more viral load is exposed in out-of-hospital contacts. In addition, it has been observed that administrative personnel who do not have contact with patients can be a potential source of transmission. This situation has reaffirmed that PPE usage rules should be followed in order to reduce the risk of transmission in healthcare personnel and that personnel working outside the clinic should follow the mask and distance rules during their contact with their colleagues. It was determined that the Ct value was lower (higher viral load) in the presence of any of the symptoms of fever, cough, respiratory distress and fatigue in healthcare workers. In the presence of these symptoms, PCR testing of healthcare workers and taking necessary isolation measures until the test result is obtained will reduce the possibility of transmission.
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Introduction: The sudden emergence and rapid spread of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 has dangered global health. For this reason, there has been an urgent need to develop strategies to control the spread of the virus. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the clinical, laboratory and chest computed tomography (CT) findings of COVID-19 cases with positive results of SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Materials and Methods: A total of 278 patients aged 18 years and over who had positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-qPCR results and had access to laboratory and chest CT examinations between 15 April 2020 and 31 August 2020 were included in the study. Clinical classification of patients was performed as asymptomatic, mild and severe. Demographic information, laboratory tests and chest CT results of the patients were created with the data obtained from the hospital system and the relevant branch physicians. The data were analyzed statistically. Results: In the study, 150 (54%) of the patients were males and 128 (46%) were females. Forty-two (15%) of these patients were classified as asymptomatic, 200 (72%) as mild and 36 (13%) as severe cases. Mean age of the patients was found to be 45.5 ± 17.5 years and 72 (25.9%) patients were found to have at least one comorbidity. Findings consistent with COVID-19 pneumonia were observed in the chest CT examinations of 42.4% (118/278) of the patients. The rate of findings in chest CT of severe patients (91.7%) was found higher than mild (38.5%) and asymptomatic cases (19%) (p< 0.05). When we examined the laboratory findings;59.4% of the patients had elevated CRP, 42.1% lymphopenia, 41.1% elevated LDH, 40.6% elevated creatinine, 36% elevated AST, 20.1% leukopenia, 8% elevated ALT, 7.2% elevated leukocyte, 5.4% elevated troponin I and 3.3% elevated CK-MB were detected. In severe patients, lymphopenia (83.3%), neutrophil elevation (41.7%), CRP elevation (97.2%), LDH elevation (91.3%), troponin I elevation (21.4%) and AST elevation (63.9%) findings were observed at a higher rate than asymptomatic and mild cases (p< 0.05). Conclusion: In our study, it was shown that the findings of high age, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyspnea, lymphopenia and the increase in neutrophil, CRP, LDH, troponin I and AST values were associated with severe clinical presentation. These findings are thought to be helpful in understanding the differences between clinical classes in COVID-19 patients.
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Each state in the USA exhibited a unique response to the COVID-19 outbreak, along with variable levels of testing, leading to different actual case burdens in the country. In this study, via per capita testing dependent ascertainment rates, along with case and death data, we fit a minimal epidemic model for each state. We estimate infection-level responsive lockdown/self-quarantine entry and exit rates (representing government and behavioural reaction), along with the true number of cases as of 31 May 2020. Ultimately, we provide error-corrected estimates for commonly used metrics such as infection fatality ratio and overall case ascertainment for all 55 states and territories considered, along with the USA in aggregate, in order to correlate outbreak severity with first wave intervention attributes and suggest potential management strategies for future outbreaks. We observe a theoretically predicted inverse proportionality relation between outbreak size and lockdown rate, with scale dependent on the underlying reproduction number and simulations suggesting a critical population quarantine 'half-life' of 30 days independent of other model parameters.