The COVID-19 Infection Did Not Aggravate the Mortality of Long-Term Care Facility Residents Under Strict Infection Control and with Immediate Anti-Viral Treatment: Real-World Analysis

Viruses, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(5), P. 625 - 625

Published: April 26, 2025

Background: Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) remain highly vulnerable to COVID-19. Despite reduced virulence, Omicron’s high transmissibility poses ongoing risks. The effect of infection under strict control measures and early antiviral treatment remains unclear. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study in 450-bed LTCF, which implemented rigorous use, evaluating survival outcomes during repeated Omicron outbreaks from January 2022 December 2023 using Cox regression with time-dependent covariates, adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, vaccination status. Mortality trends were also compared across three periods: pre-COVID-19 (2018–2019), COVID-19 present Japan but absent our facility (2020–2021), the outbreak period (2022–2023). Results: Among 623 residents, 253 infected. was lower infected group than uninfected (16% vs. 26%), not significantly associated increased mortality (HR = 1.36; 95% CI: 0.91–2.04; p 0.14). Although stratified analysis showed higher among females, overall unexpectedly prior periods. Conclusions: In LTCFs did raise mortality. Enhanced protocols may have improved survival, even residents.

Language: Английский

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Persistent neuropsychological deficits in recovered COVID-19 patients: Correlations with disease biomarkers

Applied Neuropsychology Adult, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 13

Published: May 12, 2025

Cognitive impairment, including deficits in attention, memory, executive function, and processing speed, is common post-COVID-19 conditions, though language performance remains less studied. The present study examined the long-term effects of COVID-19 condition on cognition - communication, its associations with disease severity, Body Mass Index (BMI), inflammatory markers, quality life. Nighty eight Greek participants under 65 years age were recruited for this study. Forty-seven allocated group 51 served as cognitively healthy controls. was categorized by severity long COVID status. Assessments occurred 12 weeks post-infection, patients reevaluated after another weeks. Neurocognitive tests included ABCD-II, verbal fluency, CCT, SDMT, Euro QoL EQ-5D. Blood samples analyzed markers. Covid-19 survivors experienced significant cognitive compared to controls, particularly fluency. Long showed notably lower scores speed QoL, those without COVID. However, no differences observed between groups episodic memory functions tasks. associated biomarkers such d-dimers C-Reactive protein, elevated linked poorer generative drawing flexibility. Higher education a protective factor, higher tasks story retelling, confrontation naming, reading comprehension. Older performance, especially speed. Sex appears influence comprehension outcomes, males exhibiting enhanced comprehension-sentence task. Disease negatively affected Symbol Digit Modalities Test indicating that greater outcomes these domains. Follow-up evaluations recovered revealed improvements recall, suggesting partial recovery areas, although some persisted over time. supports findings prolonged markedly impaired neurocognitive recovering patients, severe or syndrome. Moreover, while several domains may improve time, many other remain vulnerable.

Language: Английский

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A protein language model for exploring viral fitness landscapes

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: May 13, 2025

Successively emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants lead to repeated epidemic surges through escalated fitness (i.e., relative effective reproduction number between variants). Modeling the genotype-fitness relationship enables us pinpoint mutations boosting viral and flag high-risk immediately after their detection. Here, we present CoVFit, a protein language model adapted from ESM-2, designed predict variant based solely on spike sequences. CoVFit was trained data derived genome surveillance functional mutation assays related immune evasion. successively ranked of unknown future harboring nearly 15 with informative accuracy. identified 959 elevation events throughout evolution until late 2023. Furthermore, show that is applicable for predicting single amino acid mutations. Our study gives insight into landscape provides tool efficiently identifying higher risk.

Language: Английский

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Seasonal synchronization and unpredictability in epidemic models with waning immunity and healthcare thresholds

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: May 17, 2025

This paper explores a model integrating healthcare capacity thresholds and seasonal effects to investigate the synchronization of epidemic cycles with transmission rates, using parameters reflective COVID-19 pandemic. Through bifurcation analysis in epi-seasonal domain, we identify regions significant related rate fluctuations, waning immunity, thresholds. The highlights four sources unpredictability: chaotic regimes, quasiperiodicity, proximity SNIC or transcritical bifurcations, bistability. Our findings reveal that regimes are more predictable than quasiperiodic epidemiological terms. Synchronizing outbreaks cycles, even predominantly results winter outbreaks. Conversely, quasiperiodicity allows occur at any time year. Near eradication unpredictability aligns historical pertussis data, underscoring model's relevance real-world epidemics vaccine schedules. Additionally, bistability region potential for abrupt shifts disease prevalence, triggered by superspreading events migration.

Language: Английский

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A simulation-based approach for estimating the time-dependent reproduction number from temporally aggregated disease incidence time series data

Epidemics, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 47, P. 100773 - 100773

Published: May 14, 2024

Tracking pathogen transmissibility during infectious disease outbreaks is essential for assessing the effectiveness of public health measures and planning future control strategies. A key measure time-dependent reproduction number, which has been estimated in real-time a range pathogens from incidence time series data. While commonly used approaches estimating number can be reliable when recorded frequently, such data are often aggregated temporally (for example, numbers cases may reported weekly rather than daily). As we show, methods unreliable timescale transmission shorter recording. To address this, here develop simulation-based approach involving Approximate Bayesian Computation We first use simulated dataset representative situation daily unavailable only summary values reported, demonstrating that our method provides accurate estimates under circumstances. then apply to two outbreak datasets consisting influenza case 2019-20 2022-23 Wales (in United Kingdom). Our simple-to-use will allow obtained outbreaks.

Language: Английский

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Diagnostic Accuracy of the Abbott BinaxNOW COVID‐19 Antigen Card Test, Puerto Rico

Influenza and Other Respiratory Viruses, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 18(7)

Published: July 1, 2024

ABSTRACT Background The COVID‐19 pandemic underscored the need for rapid and accurate diagnostic tools. In August 2020, Abbott BinaxNOW Antigen Card test became available as a timely affordable alternative SARS‐CoV‐2 molecular testing, but its performance may vary due to factors including timing symptomatology. This study evaluates in diverse epidemiological contexts. Methods Using RT‐PCR reference, we assessed of detection anterior nasal swabs from participants two studies Puerto Rico December 2020 May 2023. Test was by days post symptom onset, collection strategy, vaccination status, symptomatology, repeated cycle threshold (Ct) values. Results demonstrated an overall sensitivity 84.1% specificity 98.8%. Sensitivity peaked within 1–6 after onset (93.2%) higher symptomatic (86.3%) than asymptomatic (67.3%) participants. declined over course infection, dropping 96.3% initial 48.4% testing performed 7–14 later. showed 99.5% with low Ct values (≤ 25) lower (18.2%) Cts (36–40). Conclusions high specificity, particularly early‐stage infections situations where is crucial clinical decision‐making, nucleic acid amplification tests are preferred. These findings highlight importance considering context when interpreting results emphasize ongoing research adapt strategies emerging variants.

Language: Английский

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Knowledge of COVID-19 symptoms, transmission, and prevention: Evidence from health and demographic surveillance in Southern Mozambique

PLOS Global Public Health, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 3(11), P. e0002532 - e0002532

Published: Nov. 1, 2023

Understanding community members' knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 transmission and prevention is essential for directing public health interventions to reduce disease spread improve vaccination coverage. Here, we describe COVID-19 transmission, prevention, symptoms among residents in Mozambique. We conducted a cross-sectional survey 33,087 households Health Demographic Surveillance System Manhiça, Participants were recruited April 2021 before the Delta variant wave peak Omicron cases February 2022. Principal components analysis was used create scores representing symptoms, prevention. Multiple imputation quasi-Poisson regression examine associations between demographic characteristics sources information, examined whether information mediated relationship educational attainment Across this rural community, 98.2%, 97.0%, 85.1% respondents reported knowing how could be prevented, that can cause disease, transmitted, respectively. The most recognized cough (51.2%), headaches (44.9%), fever (44.5%); mechanisms saliva droplets (50.5%) or aerosol (46.9%) from an infected person; measures handwashing (91.9%) mask-wearing (91.8%). Characteristics associated with greater included having at least primary education, older age, employment, higher wealth, Christian religion. Respondents who had experienced also more likely possess Receiving television, WhatsApp, radio, hospital, scores. These findings support need outreach community-engaged messaging promote measures, particularly people low education.

Language: Английский

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Knowledge of COVID-19 prevention in Eastern Ethiopia

medRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: June 29, 2023

ABSTRACT Objectives As of May 2023, over 500,000 COVID-19 cases and 7,500 deaths have been reported in Ethiopia. Understanding community members’ knowledge perception SARS-CoV-2 prevention is essential for directing public health interventions to reduce transmission improve vaccination coverage. Here, we aimed describe factors associated with among residents Eastern Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey random sample 880 participants Health Demographic Surveillance System the Harari Region, Ethiopia, from August September 2021. Principal components analysis was used create score representing prevention. Quasi-Poisson regression examine associations between demographic characteristics Our also included information regarding or government measures prevent COVID-19, healthcare services children under five, pregnant women. Results The most cited individual risk contracting were washing hands soap (91.5%) wearing facemask (89.2%), whereas least mentioned avoiding domestic international travel (22.2%) medical gloves (20.3%). recognized closure schools universities (77.0%), advice avoid gatherings (75.2%), stay home (62.3%). Adjusted analyses demonstrated that higher rural areas than urban areas, those aged ≥65 years (<25 as reference), secondary education (no formal monthly income ≥2,001 Birr (0-1,200 farmers domestic/subsistence workers employees (unemployed reference). Knowledge lower households ≥5 household members (1-2 Of five women, 9.4% 12.3% missed at one care visit since mid-March 2020 consequent pandemic, respectively. Conclusions Public infectious disease depend on perceptions knowledge. found adults had good methods reducing risks although differed groups. A substantial number respondents missing important visits. these may help Ethiopian authorities plan effective programs control SARS-CoV-2.

Language: Английский

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The Risk of SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in Community Indoor Settings: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

The Journal of Infectious Diseases, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: May 14, 2024

Quantifying the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission in indoor settings is crucial for developing effective non-vaccine prevention strategies and policies. However, summary evidence on risks other than households, schools, elderly care, health care facilities limited. We conducted a systematic review to estimate secondary attack rates (SARs) SARS-CoV-2 factors modifying community settings.

Language: Английский

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Opportunities to strengthen respiratory virus surveillance systems in Australia: lessons learned from the COVID-19 response

Communicable Diseases Intelligence, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 48

Published: July 17, 2024

Disease surveillance data was critical in supporting public health decisions throughout the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. At same time, unprecedented circumstances of pandemic revealed many shortcomings systems for viral respiratory pathogens. Strengthening identified as a priority recently established Australian Centre Control, which represents opportunity to review pre-pandemic and practices, decide on future priorities, during both inter-pandemic periods. On 20 October 2022, we ran workshop with experts from academic government sectors who had contributed COVID-19 response Australia 'The role epidemic response', at University New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. Following workshop, developed five recommendations strengthen virus Australia, present here. Our are not intended be exhaustive. We instead chose focus types that highly valuable yet typically overlooked by planners. Three collection activities support monitoring prediction impact effectiveness interventions (what measure) two methods capabilities (how measure). Implementation our would enable more robust, timely, impactful analysis.

Language: Английский

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