Shigellosis in Poland in 2018-2019.

AIM: The purpose of this study is evaluation of the epidemiological situation of shigellosis in Poland in years 2018-2019, comparing to previous years. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The evaluation of epidemiological situation of shigellosis in Poland was based on analysis of data from epidemiological surveillance collected in questionnaires and sent to the Department of Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases and Surveillance NIPH NIH-NRI by sanitary stations. Once a case was reported on a ZLK-1 and/or ZLB-1 form to the appropriate State Sanitary Inspector, an epidemiological investigation was conducted by collecting additional information from medical records and from the patient interview. Data from the "Infectious Diseases and Poisonings" bulletins years 2012-2019 was also used as well as data from shigellosis outbreaks acquired through ROE system - registry created for outbreak data gathering. RESULTS: In Poland in years 2018-2019 a total of 321 cases of shigellosis was reported. Incidence per 100,000 was 0.74 in 2018, which was considerably more than in previous years, and in 2019 was 0.10 - similarly as two years before. The most cases belonged to the 25-34 and 35-44 age groups, and the least cases to the 0-4 age group. Majority of them were women. Percentage of hospitalizations was 27% in described period. Regarding to previous years, in 2018 decrease of hospitalizations was noted. Imported cases were 54.8% of all with predominance of imports from Albania. Twenty eight percent of infections were caused by S. sonnei species. In discussed years 10 outbreaks were registered with 246 people ill, including two large outbreaks (77 and 150 cases). August was the month with the highest number of cases (217 cases, 67.6% of all), 62.2% of them were imported. CONCLUSIONS: Increase in number of cases and incidence of shigellosis in Poland in 2018 was caused by occurrence of two large epidemic outbreaks. Because of high percentage of imported cases, traveling to shigellosis endemic countries is currently the main risk factor for contracting the disease. This indicates the need for education for those who travel to endemic areas.

Healthcare workers highly affected during the COVID-19 epidemic wave in Poland prior to vaccination availability: seroprevalence study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to assess seroprevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies among healthcare workers (HCW) before introduction of vaccination, in selected areas in Poland as well as to identify potential risk factors and estimate the cumulative incidence of COVID-19 infections in this population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The authors conducted a sero-epidemiological, cross-sectional study among HCW of 5 non-COVID-19 hospitals in Poland. The recruitment took place in December 1-23, 2020, all HCW at selected hospitals could volunteer into the study. All persons were screened with rapid SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG tests in capillary blood. In case of positive result, 5 ml of venous blood was drawn for confirmatory testing with ELISA assay. The authors estimated prevalence of laboratory confirmed anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody presence and examined factors associated with positive result. Cumulative incidence was estimated applying 2-source capture-recapture method to serology results and self-report of past infection. RESULTS: Out of 1040 HCW included in the analysis, one-fourth (25.2%) received a positive result for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies by ELISA test, the prevalence among women was 25.3% (95% CI: 22.5-28.4) and 24.6% (95% CI: 19-31.2) among men. The prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was the highest among respondents who declared home contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case, 43.9% (95% CI: 32.4-56.1). It was also elevated among those who indicated contact with patients with COVID-19, 32.5% (95% CI: 26.7-38.8) and business contacts, including at the workplace, 28.9% (95% CI: 22.5-36.3). The estimated cumulative incidence of COVID-19 infections in the population, using the capture-recapture method was 41.2% (95% CI: 38.1-44.2). CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare workers remained at increased risk of infection largely due to work-related contacts with infected patients, although home exposure was also common. Estimated cumulative incidence is higher than the antibody prevalence, which indicates the need to monitor HCW for possible immunity waning, also post-immunization immunity. Med Pr. 2022;73(2):109-23.

Yersiniosis in Poland in 2018-2020.

AIM: The aim of the study was to assess the epidemiological situation of yersiniosis in Poland in 2018-2020 and compare it to previous years. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To assess the epidemiological situation of yersiniosis in Poland, data from individual case reports prepared by Sanitary Epidemiological Stations as part of routine epidemiological surveillance were used. Incidence, number of cases and data on hospitalizations by voivodship included in the bulletins "Infectious Diseases and Poisons in Poland" for 2015-2020 were also used. RESULTS: In 2018-2020, a total number of 542 cases of yersiniosis were registered, including 456 intestinal and 86 extraintestinal forms. The incidence in 2018 was 0.53/100,000 in 2019 0.59/100,000 and in 2020 0.29/100,000. The number of cases in 2020 compared to 2019 decreased by 52%, and compared to 2018 by 45.8%. The percentage of hospitalizations in each year was at a similar level of 65.5% in 2018, 62.4% in 2019, and 60% in 2020. The highest incidence was noted in the 0-4 age group at 44.7% of cases in 2018, 42.9% in 2019 and 55.6% in 2020, respectively (all cases of the intestinal form). The predominant species was Y. enterocolitica in both intestinal and extraintestinal forms. The most common serotype was serotype O:3, which was identified in 34 isolates in 2018, 43 isolates in 2019 and 9 isolates in 2020. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS: Since 2009, Poland has had a decreasing trend in the incidence of yersiniosis. In 2020, both Poland and Europe saw a sharp decline in the number of cases compared to previous years. This is a result of the occurrence of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, during which many measures were introduced to limit the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which may also have affected the number of other infections. Although the numbers of cases and incidence of yersiniosis among children under the age of 5 are the highest compared to other age groups, the highest number of hospitalizations was reported in the 10-19 age group, which most likely reflects the decreasing number of laboratory tests ordered on an outpatient basis with age and the significant underreporting of cases in this and older age groups.

Foodborne infections and intoxications in Poland in the years 2018-2020.

AIM: The purpose of this study is to assess the epidemiological situation of foodborne infections and intoxications in Poland in the years 2018-2020. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The evaluation was based on the analysis of information sent to Department of Epidemiology NIPH NIH - NRI through ROE (pol. Rejestr Ognisk Epidemicznych) - an electronic system created for uploading, transfer and analysis of data acquired during the outbreak investigations. Additional sources for the analysis were NIPH NIH - NRI annual bulletins (Czarkowski MP et al. "Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland", 2014-2020. Warsaw, NIPH NIH and GIS). RESULTS: In the years 2018-2020 a total number of 2,108 foodborne outbreaks were reported in which 52,175 persons were exposed and 17,023 got sick (in 2016 n=916, in 2019 n=918, in 2020 n=274). In 2020 over 3 fold decrease in the number of outbreaks comparing to 2019 and over 4 fold decrease in the number of cases in those outbreaks was observed. Among outbreaks which took place in 3 most frequent settings (private household, food facility and hospital) the steepest decrease was in 12th week of 2020 (ISO 2020-W12). The most frequent etiological agent of outbreaks in the years 2018-2020 was Salmonella sp. (38.3% of outbreaks in 2018, 32.7% in 2019 and 47.8% in 2020) and specifically serotype Enteritidis (38.3%, 27% and 39.4% accordingly). The most frequent setting of outbreaks was private household (59.7% outbreaks in 2018, 66% in 2019 and 62% in 2020), followed by hospital (17.4%, 18.3% i 19.7% accordingly). Up until 2019 an increasing trend in the number of small outbreaks (up to 4 cases) caused by Salmonella sp. was observed (in 2018 - 605 and in 2019 - 612 were reported). CONCLUSIONS: Decrease in the number of outbreaks in selected settings from 12th ISO week of 2020 might have been due to introduction of restrictions during COVID-19 pandemic and enhancement of personal hygiene practices. An increase in identified and registered small outbreaks caused by Salmonella sp. comparing to the median of the number of those outbreaks from 2014-2016 could partly be a result of routine surveillance enhancement after introducing System for Registry of Epidemiological Interviews (pol. SRWE).