Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection: a case-control study in college students after vaccination

Abstract Background Within the SARS-CoV-2 screening campaign offered through RT-PCR test by Sapienza University of Rome, we conducted a case-control study to identify the risk factors for the acquisition of SARS-CoV-2 infection among university students. Methods Positive students identified through the SARS-CoV-2 screening campaign (September 2021 - February 2022) were enrolled as cases and matched to two randomly selected students who tested negative on the same day. The interview questionnaire consisted of 39 questions investigating exposure to modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 in the two weeks before testing. A multivariable conditional logistic regression model was constructed to identify predictors of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% CI were calculated. Results Out of 8.730 tests for SARS-CoV-2, 173 students tested positive (2.0%), of which 122 were included in the case-control study (response rate: 70.5%). Most students were female (73.2%), with a mean age of 23.3 years (SD ± 3.6), vaccinated for SARS-CoV-2 (97.8%) and enrolled in non-health faculty (56.8%). At the multivariable analysis, significant positive associations were found with having had contact with a person who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (aOR: 3.04, 95% CI: 1.59-5.82) or having been to a disco/nightclub (aOR: 5.37, 95% CI: 2.00-14.38). Instead, being vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 (aOR: 0.13, 95% CI: 0.01-0.93), having a valid EU COVID digital certificate (aOR: 0.06, 95% CI: 0.01-0.30) and attending lectures in-person (aOR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.17-0.70) were negatively predictors. No association was found for sex, age, health faculty students, use of public transportation, attendance at restaurants or gyms. Conclusions The results highlight how anti-COVID-19 vaccinations and the reasons for students to obtain an EU COVID digital certificate may prevent students from getting infected. In addition, university environment seems to be safe for students. Key messages • Promoting SARS-CoV-2 vaccination adherence in the college-age population is crucial to limiting the SARS-CoV-2 spread. • Attending in-person educational activities in regulated settings (e.g., low occupancy, mask use) may not be a risk factor for COVID-19 infection.


Background:
General practices are experiencing increasing pressures due to rising demand, declining staff numbers, and knock-on impacts on patient care. The COVID-19 pandemic has added further challenges and reinforced the importance of teamwork and organisational settings. We undertook a mixed-method systematic review to explore which interventions can improve teamwork within primary care and improve inter-sector partnerships with other health and social care services. Methods: Five major bibliographic databases were systematically searched for relevant studies from inception to February 2022. We included controlled intervention study designs and linked qualitative studies. For amenable data, meta-analysis is being undertaken using random effects models taking into account the between study heterogeneity (quantified using the I2 statistic) and potential publication bias (funnel plots and Egger's test). The qualitative studies are analysed using thematic analyses.

Results:
The original search yield of 3012 studies, of which 14 studies with 1,534 participants were include in our analyses. Most of the evaluated interventions focused on improving nontechnical skills and provided evidence of improvements in the quality of teamwork in primary care. Meta-analysis and narrative synthesis is undertaken to examine the impact of the teamwork interventions on staff outcomes (team attitudes, knowledge, and functioning; wellbeing), and patient outcomes (e.g. quality of patient care, patient satisfaction/experience).

Conclusions:
The findings provide information of immediate importance for the mental health and wellbeing and teamwork support of professionals entering primary care and for the organisation of primary care services.

Background:
This study was part of a 5-year, HRB-funded research project about hospital doctor retention and emigration.

Methods:
In 2021, we conducted a Mobile Instant Messaging Ethnography (MIME) with 28 hospital doctors in Ireland. This involved interviewing doctors via Zoom and engaging them in a 12-week work-related conversation via WhatsApp.

Results:
Our findings illustrate that the pandemic intensified already difficult working conditions. Respondents described working in an under-staffed and under-resourced system, in which they were unable to protect their own wellbeing or achieve a worklife balance. Morale was low and few had hope of health system improvement.

Conclusions:
The findings reveal a workforce under strain and raise concerns about health worker wellbeing and health worker attrition, post-pandemic. However, they also highlight the importance (and value) of listening to the voices of frontline health workers and using their insights to inform and enhance retention policies.

Background:
Within the SARS-CoV-2 screening campaign offered through RT-PCR test by Sapienza University of Rome, we conducted a case-control study to identify the risk factors for the acquisition of SARS-CoV-2 infection among university students.

Methods:
Positive students identified through the SARS-CoV-2 screening campaign (September 2021 -February 2022) were enrolled as cases and matched to two randomly selected students who tested negative on the same day. The interview questionnaire consisted of 39 questions investigating exposure to modifiable and nonmodifiable risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 in the two weeks before testing. A multivariable conditional logistic regression model was constructed to identify predictors of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Adjusted odds ratio (aOR) and 95% CI were calculated.

Background:
Recent studies have identified important social inequalities in SARS-CoV-2 infection and related COVID-19 outcomes in the Belgian population. This study aims to investigate socioeconomic and -demographic characteristics associated with the uptake of COVID-19 vaccine in Belgium.

Methods:
We conducted a retrospective analysis of the uptake of the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine among 5,341,584 adults (! 18 years) tested for COVID-19 in Belgium until August 31, 2021. We integrated four national data sources: the Belgian vaccine registry (vaccination status), COVID-19 Healthdata (laboratory test results), STATBEL (socioeconomic/-demographic data) and the Common Base Registry for HealthCare Actors (people licensed to practice a healthcare profession in Belgium). Unvaccinated and vaccinated people (with at least one dose) were compared using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Conclusions:
Migrants, people living alone, single parents or socioeconomically disadvantaged groups have lower uptake of COVID-19 vaccine in Belgium. The identification of these socioeconomic and -demographic disparities is critical to develop strategies guaranteeing a more equitable COVID-19 vaccination coverage in Belgium.

Key messages:
The study highlight important determinants in the uptake of the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Belgium. These results highlight the importance to focus efforts on socioeconomically disadvantaged groups currently underrepresented in COVID-19 vaccination uptake in Belgium.
Abstract citation ID: ckac129.047 SARS-CoV-2 Seroprevalence in Germany: results from the second wave of the RKI-SOEP study

Introduction:
The first wave of the ''Corona Monitoring bundesweit'' (RKI-SOEP) study showed that shortly before the start of the German vaccination program only about 2% of adults (> 18 years) had already experienced SARS-CoV-2 infection and more than half of these cases had been detected and notified. The objectives of the second wave of this study are to further investigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in Germanýs population aged over 14 years. It aims to determine the seroprevalence of infection-and vaccine-induced IgG antibodies against SARS-CoV-2. Finally, it examines health, demographic and socioeconomic risk and protective factors for infection and vaccine acceptance.

Methods:
From November 2021 to February 2022, the second wave of this cross-sectional study collected biospecimens (capillary blood samples) and interview data, including information on infection and vaccination, from a nationwide population sample drawn from the German Socio-Economic Panel (SOEP). The dried self-collected blood samples were then analyzed for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies by Euroimmun ELISA assay. Results: Based on preliminary, unweighted data of around 11,000 participants aged >14 years (52% response rate), we expect the final seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies to be in the range of 80 to 90%. Thus, around 10 to 20% of the German population may still be susceptible to a severe disease progression because they are neither infected nor vaccinated. Final results, weighted for non-response and adjusted for test sensitivity and specificity, will be presented.

Conclusions:
The RKI-SOEP-2 study will be pivotal in both, contributing to an improved understanding of SARS-CoV-2 propagation in different regional and sub-group settings and in identifying vulnerable target groups that need to be protected against future infections. Key messages: Dried blood self-sampling in a nationwide sample is a robust tool to estimate seroprevalence at a population level. As of February 2022, presumably 80 to 90% of the German population has previously been infected and/or vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2.