ABSTRACT
In order to address the main challenges related to the rare diseases (RDs) the European Commission launched the European Reference Networks (ERNs), virtual networks involving healthcare providers (HCPs) across Europe. The mission of the ERNs is to tackle low prevalence and RDs that require highly specialised treatment and a concentration of knowledge and resources. In fact, ERNs offer the potential to give patients and healthcare professionals across the EU access to the best expertise and timely exchange of lifesaving knowledge, trying to make the knowledge travelling more than patients. For this reason, ERNs were established as concrete European infrastructures, and this is particularly crucial in the framework of rare and complex diseases in which no country alone has the whole knowledge and capacity to treat all types of patients. It has been five years since their kick-off launch in Vilnius in 2017. The 24 ERNs have been intensively working on different transversal areas, including patient management, education, clinical practice guidelines, patients' care pathways and many other fundamental topics. The present work is therefore aimed not only at reporting a summary of the main activities and milestones reached so far, but also at celebrating the first 5 years of the ERN on Rare and Complex Connective Tissue and Musculo-skeletal Diseases (ReCONNET), in which the members of the network built together one of the 24 infrastructures that are hopefully going to change the scenario of rare diseases across the EU.
ABSTRACT
Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, spreads swiftly in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, leading to a high degree of lethality. The data generated by an epidemiological surveillance program allow for obtaining valid information on the diseases’ epidemiology and possible prevention methods. Objective This work aims to analyze COVID-19 epidemiology among healthcare staff based in the Seville healthcare district (Spain) and evaluate its role in outbreaks in nursing homes. Methods This is an observational, descriptive study of 88 assisted living facilities located in the city of Seville from March 1 to May 23, 2020. Data were obtained via epidemiological surveys on staff at centers where there were outbreaks (n = 732 in 14 nursing homes). The cumulative incidence, epidemic curves, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and delays in isolation and notification of cases were calculated. For the statistical analysis, measures of central tendency and dispersion were used as well as confidence intervals and statistical hypothesis tests. Results There were 124 cases in staff members (cumulative incidence 16.9%), 79.0% of which were in women. The majority presented with mild symptoms (87.1%). The most common symptoms were fever (31.5%) and cough (49.2%). The median number of days from onset of symptoms to isolation was three. Conclusions A high incidence in nursing home staff along with delays in isolation were observed, which could affect the dynamics of transmission in outbreaks. It is necessary to review disease identification and isolation practices among staff as well as emphasize rapid implementation of prevention measures.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, spreads swiftly in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, leading to a high degree of lethality. The data generated by an epidemiological surveillance program allow for obtaining valid information on the diseases' epidemiology and possible prevention methods. OBJECTIVE: This work aims to analyze COVID-19 epidemiology among healthcare staff based in the Seville healthcare district (Spain) and evaluate its role in outbreaks in nursing homes. METHODS: This is an observational, descriptive study of 88 assisted living facilities located in the city of Seville from March 1 to May 23, 2020. Data were obtained via epidemiological surveys on staff at centers where there were outbreaks (n = 732 in 14 nursing homes). The cumulative incidence, epidemic curves, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and delays in isolation and notification of cases were calculated. For the statistical analysis, measures of central tendency and dispersion were used as well as confidence intervals and statistical hypothesis tests. RESULTS: There were 124 cases in staff members (cumulative incidence 16.9%), 79.0% of which were in women. The majority presented with mild symptoms (87.1%). The most common symptoms were fever (31.5%) and cough (49.2%). The median number of days from onset of symptoms to isolation was three. CONCLUSIONS: A high incidence in nursing home staff along with delays in isolation were observed, which could affect the dynamics of transmission in outbreaks. It is necessary to review disease identification and isolation practices among staff as well as emphasize rapid implementation of prevention measures.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , COVID-19/epidemiology , Female , Health Personnel , Humans , Long-Term Care , Nursing Homes , SARS-CoV-2ABSTRACT
This paper exposes the problem of the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic that is plaguing humanity. It reports that authors claim that pandemics can become routine, considering that the viral exchange between species has occurred more frequently due to the regular presence of man in various ecosystems. It presents a brief characterization of interstate passenger transport in Brazil. Describes the concept of PageRank, a metric that classifies web pages. Reminds the concepts of scheduling and correlation. It obtains, via open data, information on interstate and international transport in Brazil. It creates, in the form of a graph, a passenger flow network and performs a preliminary exploratory analysis there. Semantically paralleling the network created with the web, it calculates its PageRank metric and establishes its correlation with the date of the first infection in each Federative Unit in the country. Finally, it outlines a predictability of the ordinal days when each Federative Unit would be infected by means of linear regression, highlighting that, in addition to the calculations, the methodology has more relevance as a result presented. © 2021 Escuela Interamericana de Bibliotecologia. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, spreads swiftly in nursing homes and assisted living facilities, leading to a high degree of lethality. The data generated by an epidemiological surveillance program allow for obtaining valid information on the diseases' epidemiology and possible prevention methods. Objective: This work aims to analyze COVID-19 epidemiology among healthcare staff based in the Seville healthcare district (Spain) and evaluate its role in outbreaks in nursing homes. Methods: This is an observational, descriptive study of 88 assisted living facilities located in the city of Seville from March 1 to May 23, 2020. Data were obtained via epidemiological surveys on staff at centers where there were outbreaks (n = 732 in 14 nursing homes). The cumulative incidence, epidemic curves, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and delays in isolation and notification of cases were calculated. For the statistical analysis, measures of central tendency and dispersion were used as well as confidence intervals and statistical hypothesis tests. Results: There were 124 cases in staff members (cumulative incidence 16.9%), 79.0% of which were in women. The majority presented with mild symptoms (87.1%). The most common symptoms were fever (31.5%) and cough (49.2%). The median number of days from onset of symptoms to isolation was three. Conclusions: A high incidence in nursing home staff along with delays in isolation were observed, which could affect the dynamics of transmission in outbreaks. It is necessary to review disease identification and isolation practices among staff as well as emphasize rapid implementation of prevention measures.
ABSTRACT
COVID-19 causes various clinical manifestations, ophthalmological manifestations present as viral conjunctivitis. After the entry of the virus, it will produce complex immune response routes, receptors for the virus are found in cells of the ocular surface, therefore it could give a local infection, it is likely that after the entry of the virus, a limited response of ocular inflammation, which could be mediated by the immune privilege approach.