Microbiology and Infectious Diseases postgraduate teaching (PRIDA)

Selected papers that related to COVID-19 infection prevention and control from the daily COVID-19 Critical Intelligence Unit  listings and other identified literature.  This posting does not assess the specific evidence or its quality. Please let me know of any gaps – @mdjkf.

Peer reviewed

• Capon et al. Bondi and beyond. Lessons from three waves of COVID-19 from 2020. “To describe local operational aspects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) response during the first three waves of outbreaks in New South Wales (NSW), Australia, which began in January, July and December 2020”  [pre-delta outbreak confidence!]
• Santarpia et al. The size and culturability of patient-generated SARS-CoV-2 aerosol. “Size-fractionated aerosol samples and aerosol size distributions were collected from 6 x COVID-19 positive patients. Aerosol samples were analyzed for viral RNA, positive samples were cultured in Vero E6 cells. “
• Bergand et al. Variation of National and International Guidelines on Respiratory  Protection for Health Care Professionals During the COVID-19 Pandemic
• Oster et al.  Association Between Exposure Characteristics and the Risk for COVID-19 Infection Among Health Care Workers With and Without BNT162b2 Vaccination (during Alpha, Israel). “This case-control study found that exposure to SARS-CoV-2–positive household members was a risk factor associated with infection among vaccinated HCWs”
• Keehner et al. Resurgence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in a Highly Vaccinated Health System Workforce [Delta experience, California]

• Read et al.  Hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection in the UK’s first COVID-19 pandemic wave

• Ingram et al. COVID-19 Prevention and Control Measures in Workplace Settings: A Rapid Review and Meta-Analysis

Preprints

• Conway-Morris et al. The removal of airborne SARS-CoV-2 and other microbial bioaerosols by air filtration on COVID-19 surge units. “Crossover study of portable air filtration and sterilisation devices in a repurposed ‘surge’ COVID ward and ‘surge’ ICU. Filtration significantly reduced the burden of other microbial bioaerosols. “
• Wachinger et al.  Highly valued despite burdens: qualitative implementation research on rapid tests for hospital-based SARS-CoV-2 screening [German experience with admission RDTs ] “Despite challenges, RDT-based screening for all incoming patients was observed to be feasible and acceptable among implementers and patients, and merits continued consideration in the context of rising infections and stagnating vaccination rates.”

• Thornton et al.  The impact of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) design features on the transmission of viruses, including SARS-CoV-2: an overview of reviews. “Ventilation, humidity, temperature, and filtration can play a role in viability and transmission of viruses, including coronaviruses. Recommendations for minimum standards were not possible due to few studies investigating a given HVAC parameter.”

• Shirreff et al. How well does SARS-CoV-2 spread in hospitals? “We estimate the patient-to-patient R0 and daily transmission rate of SARS-CoV-2 using data from a closely monitored hospital outbreak in Paris, March-April 2020… An obligatory mask-wearing policy introduced during the outbreak is likely to have changed the R0, and we estimate values before (8.7) and after (1.3) its introduction, corresponding to a policy efficacy of 85%.” 

• Linsenmeyer et al. Cryptic Transmission of the Delta Variant AY.3 Sublineage of SARS-CoV-2 among Fully Vaccinated Patients on an Inpatient Ward. “An inpatient was diagnosed with asymptomatic DV infection on routine pre-discharge testing. Contact tracing detected infection in 6 of 38 (unmasked) patients (15.8%), 1 of 168 staff (0.6%).”

• Lindsey et al. Characterising within-hospital SARS-CoV-2 transmission events: a retrospective analysis integrating epidemiological and viral genomic data from a UK tertiary care setting across two pandemic waves [pre-delta study].  “Staff-to-staff transmission was estimated to be the most frequent transmission type during Wave 1 (32% of observed hospital-acquired infections; decreasing to 13% in Wave 2. Patient-to-patient transmissions increased from 27% in Wave 1 to 52% in Wave 2, to become the predominant transmission type.  Hospital-acquired cases appeared to drive most
  onward transmissions. ” “Most of our transmission hotspots were wards built over two decades ago, with 6 – 8 beds per bay, and shared toilet facilities between every 1 to 2 bays.”

• Byambasuren et al.  The effect of eye protection on SARS-CoV-2 transmission: a systematic review.  [limited poor quality evidence]

Commentaries

• Doherty Institute COVID-19 modelling : key findings (10Sep21) ; report to cabinet 17Sep21 and revised report 10Aug21

• BMJ 28Sep21:  Covid-19: Fully vaccinated patients no longer need to test or isolate before elective procedures, hospitals are told. “Fully vaccinated patients no longer need to have a polymerase chain reaction covid-19 test or to isolate before elective procedures, as long as they have a negative lateral flow test on the day, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has told hospitals.”

Papers that related to COVID-19 infection prevention and control from the daily COVID-19 Critical Intelligence Unit  listings and other identified literature.  This posting does not assess the specific evidence or its quality. Please let me know of any gaps – @mdjkf .

Peer reviewed journals

• An experimental study on the stability of SARS-CoV-2 on critical personal protective equipment here  “…viable SARS-CoV-2 in the presence of a soil load persisted for up to 21 days on experimentally inoculated PPE, including materials from filtering facepiece respirators (N-95 and N-100 masks) and a plastic visor. Conversely, when applied to 100% cotton fabric, the virus underwent rapid degradation and became undetectable by TCID₅₀ assay within 24 h. “
• An observational study on aerosol-based transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in hospital rooms and community isolation facilities here “While SARS-CoV-2 is readily captured in aerosols, virus culture remains challenging despite optimized sampling methodologies to preserve virus viability.”
• A simulation study on fluid dynamics of COVID-19 airborne infection here A complex study:  “Our simulations demonstrate that currently available information is inadequate to design social distancing recommendations on a solid scientific basis. … The relative humidity of the environment has a particularly dramatic effect [on droplet size and transmission potential].” , 
• Unintended consequences of hand sanitiser use in COVID-19 pandemic here  “…JAMA Ophthalmology, authors^1,2 from 2 different countries report eye injuries in children from inadvertent contact with alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Martin et al¹ found a 7-fold increase in ocular exposure in children in 2020, with a corresponding increase in surgeries required to manage severe injuries resulting from these exposures.”
• Recommendations for residential aged care in Australia post-COVID-19 here  [ a perspective from Victoria, pre second wave ]

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