Compliance with Preventive Measures and COVID-19 Vaccination Intention among Medical and Other Healthcare Students.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study is to evaluate compliance with preventive measures and COVID-19 vaccination acceptance among Slovenian students of healthcare and medicine, identify the predictive socio-demographic factors, establish the possible causes, and propose vaccination strategies and programs in response to the findings. METHODS: Data were collected using an online survey as part of a large cross-sectional study of full-time students engaged in higher-level study. The survey took place between 9 February and 8 March 2021. RESULTS: A total of 56.3% of medical and other healthcare students surveyed expressed their intention to receive the vaccine at the earliest opportunity, 22.4% said that they would do so at a later date and 21.3% said that they did not intend to get vaccinated. The medical students surveyed showed a greater readiness to get vaccinated at the earliest opportunity than those studying other healthcare disciplines, men more than women, and single persons more than those in a relationship. Students attending a vocational college, professional higher education or university study program (Bologna first cycle) showed less readiness than other students to get vaccinated as soon as they were able. CONCLUSION: Our research found that 56.3% of those studying health-related subjects intended to get vaccinated at the earliest opportunity. There were significant differences between medical and other healthcare students, as well as differences resulting from the level of higher education study being undertaken. In addition, the conclusions show that there needs to be a strengthening of communication with students regarding COVID-19 and the importance of vaccination. Lessons that we learned in this pandemic should prepare us for the future. Clearer and more effective communication and education in the future regarding the importance of vaccination is the most effective way of preventing communicable diseases.

Epidemiological investigation of a legionellosis outbreak in a Slovenian nursing home, August 2010.

BACKGROUND: August 2010 marked the beginning of the largest outbreak of legionellosis in a Slovenian nursing home. This article presents our experiences with the outbreak investigation. METHODS: In order to collect the necessary patient epidemiological data, we used individual epidemiological questionnaires. Samples were available from 15 patients and were subject to laboratory investigation. Urine and sputum samples were difficult to obtain due to the underlying diseases of the patients. Serological diagnostics constituted an important part of the epidemiological investigation. Sixty-four environmental samples were taken to identify the sources of infection. By genotyping, we assessed the affinity of the allelic profile of Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 in environmental samples and in patient samples. RESULTS: Legionnaires' disease was diagnosed in 10 patients based on a combination of various tests. Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1, Legionella pneumophila serogroups 2-14, and Legionella sp., in concentrations of < 10 to 61,000 CFU/l, were isolated from 51 out of 64 environmental samples. The source of the outbreak was confirmed by genotyping the isolates from patients and the isolates from the water supply system. The 2 isolates had identical allelic profiles corresponding to that of L. pneumophila serogroup 1 allelic profile 2,3,9,10,2,1,6, designated sequence type 23 (according to the European Working Group for Legionella Infections). CONCLUSION: We describe a Legionella pneumophila serogroup 1 outbreak in a Slovenian nursing home. The source of infection was demonstrated using sequence-based typing. Water flow disturbances were determined as the most probable cause of Legionella growth. Overall, the risk of a Legionella outbreak is underestimated in Slovenia.