Effect Analysis of Different Environmental Disinfection Methods on Reducing Contamination of Surfaces by the Omicron BA.2.2 Variant of SARS-CoV-2 and the Characteristics of Fomite Contamination in the Fever Clinic in the Out-Broken of Shanghai.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of different environmental disinfection methods on reducing contaminated surfaces (CSs) by the Omicron BA.2.2 variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the fever clinic between March 20 and May 30, 2022, and to analyze the influences and related factors of CSs. This study includes survey data from 389 positive patients (SPPs) and 204 CSs in the fever clinic, including the CS type, disinfection method, length of time spent in the clinic, cycle threshold (CT) value, name, age, weight, mask type, mask-wearing compliance, hand-mouth touch frequency and sex. Associations between study variables and specified outcomes were explored using univariate regression analyses. Mask-wearing compliance had a significant negative correlation with CSs (r = - 0.446, P = 0.037). Among the 389 SPPs, 22 SPPs (CRP, 5.66%) caused CSs in the separate isolation room. A total of 219 SPPs (56.30%) were male. The mean age of SPPs was 4.34 ± 3.92 years old, and the mean CT value was 12.44 ± 5.11. In total, 9952 samples with exposure history were taken, including 204 (2.05%) CSs. Among the CSs, the positive rate of flat surfaces was the highest in public areas (2.52%) and separate isolation rooms (4.75%). Disinfection methods of ultraviolet radiation + chemical irradiation significantly reduced the CSs in both the public area (0% vs. 4.56%) and the separate isolation room (0.76% vs. 2.64%) compared with the chemical method alone (P < 0.05). Compared with ordinary SPPs, CRPs were older (6.04 year vs. 4.23 year), and the male proportion was higher (72.73% vs. 55.31%). In particular, it was found that SPPs contaminated their surroundings and therefore imposed risks on other people. Environmental disinfection with ultraviolet radiation + chemical treatment should be emphasized. The findings may be useful to guide infection control practices for the Omicron BA.2.2 variant of SARS-CoV-2.

COVID-19 Anxiety and Washing Obsessive-compulsive Symptoms: Stress Coping Styles as a Mediator

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted people's psychological functioning, including how they cope with anxiety. This study aimed to assess the role of coping styles in the relationship between COVID-19 anxiety and Washing ObsessiveCompulsive Disorder (W-OCD) symptoms. Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 420 people living in Kashan city (Iran) from March to April, 2020. Participants were selected by the convenience sampling method due to the difficulties brought about by COVID-19 and completed the contamination subscale of the Padua Inventory, COVID-19 anxiety inventory, and coping strategies scale. Data were analyzed by structural equation modeling (SEM) using AMOS-22. Results: The results revealed that emotion-focused, somatization and social support coping strategies were significantly associated with W-OCD symptoms. Also, there was a significant correlation between COVID-19 anxiety and the W-OCD symptoms. SEM results revealed that emotion-focused and somatization coping strategies positively mediated the relationship between COVID-19 and W-OCD symptoms. Conclusion: Emotion-focused and somatization coping strategies increase W-OCD symptoms following COVID-19 anxiety. Psychoeducation interventions addressing COVID-19's physical and psychological impacts on health, discriminating the rational and adaptive behavior and obsessive and compulsive behaviors, and restricting the information gathering from numerous sources, which may lead to increased negative emotions, might be helpful. © 2023 Bentham Science Publishers.

Prevention related to the occupational exposure of health professionals workers in the COVID-19 scenario

Objective: to describe the main recommended actions on prevention actions related to occupational exposure of health professionals working at COVID-19, available until March 2020. Content: The current pandemic disease caused by the new SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has its transmission favored by close and unprotected contact with secretions or excretions from infected patients, mainly through salivary droplets. Organizational prevention practices should be prioritized, since patient's arrival at the health service, optimizing the flow of care, the first care and during health care actions, to minimize occupational exposure to the biological agent. Health professionals classified as a risk group should be removed from activities at risk of contamination. Those contaminated or adulterated must remain in quarantine to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Final considerations: care to avoid contamination of workers in this pandemic by the new coronavirus must be prioritized, prevented from affecting the assistance to the population that seeks assistance in health services. © 2020, Centro de Estudos da Faculdade de Enfermagem da UERJ. All rights reserved.