European studies to evaluate COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness in HCWs: results from Italian hospitals : Antonella Agodi

Background Evaluating COVID-19 vaccine coverage and risk factors is useful to develop public health strategies against COVID-19 pandemic. In the framework of two studies commissioned by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and coordinated by Epiconcept, France, we reported findings about incidence and seroprevalence among healthcare workers (HCWs) enrolled from three Italian hospitals. Methods From July 2021 to date, the AOUP “G. Rodolico-San Marco” (Catania), the San Gerardo Hospital (Monza) and the Policlinico Gemelli (Rome) participated in the ECDC study to measure COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness. Catania and Rome also participated to the ECDC study of nosocomial transmission. HCWs were asked to complete a weekly questionnaire to report changes in health status and professional/personal exposures. At recruitment, a nasopharyngeal swab for RT-PCR and a blood sample for serology test were collected. Moreover, HCWs were followed-up with a weekly or bimonthly nasopharyngeal or saliva swabs. Blood samples were collected every one or two months. Results A total of 226 HCWs was enrolled from Catania, 330 from Rome and 132 from Monza in the COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness study. As of February 2022, PCR tests performed were 2270 in Catania, 5475 in Rome and 891 in Monza sites. Moreover, the serological tests performed were 845 in Catania, 760 in Rome and 395 in Monza sites. A total of 6 SARS-CoV-2 infections were identified in Catania, 34 in Rome and 4 in Monza sites. Interestingly, the study of nosocomial transmission reported the highest incidence rate in Catania (4 per 10,000 person-day), while 0.7 per 10,000 person-day in Rome. During the study period seroprevalence declined by 17% among HWCs enrolled in Catania. Conclusions Our findings revealed low number of COVID-19 infections, with high COVID-19 vaccine coverage among HCWs. However, further analyses are needed to provide more robust estimates of vaccine effectiveness. Key messages Monitoring risk factors is useful to understand the pandemic scenario among high-risk groups. A larger sample size and follow-up will improve public health vaccination strategies against COVID-19.

SARS-CoV-2 and the Risk Assessment Document in Italian Work;Specific or Generic Risk Even If Aggravated?

In December 2019, several cases of atypical pneumonia were detected in Wuhan city, Hubei province, inland China. The initial outbreak was of considerable size first in China subsequently spread to the rest of the world. Immediately after the epidemic (which according to the World Health Organization had risen to pandemic status), the problem of whether or not to update the occupational risk assessment arose, also considering how the biological risk from SARS CoV-2 should be understood: specific or generic. To this end, we conducted a literature review to identify national health legislation and policies, examining how Italy has addressed the COVID-19 emergency in occupational health planning, in order to develop considerations on the need to update the Risk Assessment Document following the pandemic status. The data that emerged from the review of current legislation allowed us to conclude that the risk from SARS-CoV-2 is in most work activities to be understood as a generic or aggravated generic risk, requiring the employer to apply and control the preventive measures suggested by health authorities to contain the spread of the virus.

Comfort rules for face masks among healthcare workers during COVID-19 spread.

BACKGROUND: The outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) made imperative the use of protective devices as a source control tool. As there is no definite antiviral treatment and effective vaccine, the only efficient means of protecting and mitigating infectious contagion has been the use of personal protective equipment, especially by healthcare workers. However, masks affect the humidification process of inhaled air, possibly leading to a basal inflammatory state of the upper airways. STUDY DESIGN: This is a single-center observational study conducted at the University Hospital of Catania from April 1, 2020, to June 31, 2020. METHODS: We analyzed the role of protective masks on the elimination of upper airways complaints in healthcare workers of the University Hospital of Catania. We evaluated 277 subjects through a self-administered 17 item questionnaire based on respiratory, work performance and health-related quality of life domains. RESULTS: A higher prevalence of nasal and ocular symptoms, perceived reduced work performance, difficulty in concentrating, and sleep disorders were found. After two weeks adhering to a list of good practices that we recommended, significant reversibility of the symptoms investigated and work performance enhancement were observed. CONCLUSIONS: Despite clinical complaints related to personal protective equipment, effective amelioration through usage rules is easily obtained. Given the essential use of protective masks, healthcare workers have to adhere to appropriate work and safety prevention rules.

Development and validation in a group of industry workers, of an application for audiometric screening: A solution for social distance during COVID-19 emergency

In the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic, companies and institutions all over the world are trying to find the best ways to reorganize their activity, minimizing the contagion risk among their employees, so as to protect their health and prevent internal SARS-COV-2 outbreaks. The recent development of new communication technologies, such as smartphones and tablets, has paved the way for the development and implementation of different applications. Starting with the above issues, in this study, we wanted to investigate the efficacy of iAudiometry application developed by our research team for the detection of deficits in the auditory system. Furthermore, we analyzed the precision in detecting ambient Sound Pressure Levels between 3 different types of headphones. To this aim we divided the study and development process into four main phases: the feasibility study;the development of a signal generation algorithm, calibration and evaluation of the ambient Sound Pressure Level (SPL) on different types of headphones, and;a comparative study between conventional audiometry and an app with related headphones. Finally, this study allowed us to differentiate the headphones tested into 3 different types: headphones suitable for professional screening;Bluetooth headphones suitable for professional screening, and;headphones with slight but statistically significant differences, not suitable for professional screening. Our App is able to easily reproduce a reliable audiometric screening, limiting the contact between patient and examiner. © EuroMediterranean Biomedical Journal 2020.

Transmission mode associated with coronavirus disease 2019: a review.

OBJECTIVE: In late December 2019 in Wuhan (China), Health Commission reported a cluster of pneumonia cases of unknown etiology, subsequently isolated and named Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) Coronavirus 2 (CoV-2). In this review, the main transmission routes and causes of mortality associated with COVID-19 were investigated. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A review was carried out to recognize relevant research available until 10 April 2020. RESULTS: The main transmission routes of COVID-19 have been the following: animal to human and human-to-human pathways, namely: respiratory transmission; oro-fecal transmission; air, surface-human transmission. Transmission from asymptomatic persons, healthcare transmission, and interfamily transmission have been well documented. CONCLUSIONS: SARS-CoV-2 possesses powerful pathogenicity and transmissibility. It is presumed to spread primarily via respiratory droplets and close contact. The most probable transmission pathway is definitely the inter-human one. Asymptomatic patients seem to play a crucial role in spreading the infection. Because of COVID-19 infection pandemic potential, careful surveillance is essential to monitor its future host adaptation, viral evolution, infectivity, transmissibility, and pathogenicity in order to gain an effective vaccine and flock immunity and reduce mortality as soon and as much as it is possible.