98%
921
2 minutes
20
Background: We describe an epidemiological investigation of a SARS-CoV-2-XBB.1 outbreak among healthcare workers (HCWs) returning from a 5-days educational tour abroad.
Methods: We prospectively followed participants for symptoms and sampled blood for neutralization assays of four SARS-CoV-2 variants (wild type, XBB, EG.5.1, and BA.2.86) at 1, 3, and 6 months after their return. When available, samples from the 3 months preceding the outbreak were also tested. We compared geometric mean titers (GMT) of neutralizing antibodies of infected versus uninfected HCWs and febrile versus afebrile infected HCWs.
Results: Nineteen (10%) of 181 HCWs were infected, all had mild COVID-19, 90% (17/19) had symptoms, and 16% (3/19) reported fever. Infected individuals tended to have lower pre-exposure XBB-neutralizing antibody titers (GMT of 32 versus 107 ID50, P = 0.248). Neutralization against XBB and newer subvariants peaked at 3 months and was higher among infected individuals (GMT 702 versus 156 [P < 0.001], 558 versus 163 [P = 0.001], and 558 vs. 182 [P = 0.002], ID50 for XBB, EG.5.1., and BA.2.86, respectively). By six months, these differences were no longer observed. Fever was positively associated with XBB neutralization (GMT 3474 versus 485, ID50 P = 0.005).
Conclusions: Recently infected individuals are protected from reinfection with newer subvariants. However, protection is likely short lived.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107240 | DOI Listing |
JAMA Netw Open
September 2025
Centre de recherche intégrée pour un système apprenant en santé et services sociaux, Centre intégré de santé et de services sociaux de Chaudière-Appalaches, Lévis, Québec, Canada.
Importance: Caregivers of community-dwelling older adults play a protective role in emergency department (ED) care transitions. When the demands of caregiving result in caregiver burden, ED returns can ensue.
Objective: To develop models describing whether caregiver burden is associated with ED revisits and hospital admissions up to 30 days after discharge from an initial ED visit.
Appl Biochem Biotechnol
September 2025
AVT - Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 51, Aachen, 52074, Germany.
Microbial co-cultures provide significant advantages over commonly used axenic cultures in biotechnological processes, including increased productivity and access to novel natural products. However, differentiated quantification of the microorganisms in co-cultures remains challenging using conventional measurement techniques. To address this, a fluorescence-based approach was developed to enable the differentiated online monitoring of microbial growth in co-cultures.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Epidemiol Glob Health
September 2025
Center for Communicable Diseases Control (CDC), Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
Background: Healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs) pose a serious threat to healthcare systems. Accurately determining the incidence of HCAIs is crucial for planning and implementing efficient interventions, as they are associated with a wide range of challenges. The objective of this study was to assess and update the incidence rates of HCAIs in Iran in 2023, using data from the Iranian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance (INIS) system, a nationwide hospital-based surveillance program.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInfection
September 2025
Research Unit for Environment, Work and Health, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Bartholins Allé 2, Building 1260, Aarhus C, DK-8000, Denmark.
Background: Livestock-MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) can cause infections in persons without known contact to livestock, but the route of transmission is unclear. We investigated whether the risk of livestock-MRSA infection among persons with no known contact to livestock is associated with the number of pig farms near the home, and whether this association is affected by the upwind/downwind location of the farms.
Methods: Register-based case-control study of 518 persons from Denmark with clinical infections with livestock-MRSA in 2016-2021 and no known exposure to livestock, and 4,944 matched controls.
Arch Orthop Trauma Surg
September 2025
Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement Service, Hospital for Special Surgery, 535 East 70th Street, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
Background: Differentiating periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) from aseptic failure is challenging in total joint arthroplasty. To date, there is no consensus about the most accurate criteria to diagnose PJI. The current study compares common diagnostic PJI criteria.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF