Healthcare-associated COVID-19 outbreaks: a nationwide population-based cohort study

Transmission dynamics and associated mortality of nosocomial COVID-19 throughout 2021: a retrospective study at a large teaching hospital in London

“…These findings support the current COVID-19 mortality surveillance that has shown mortality reducing over time [ 18 ]. Our estimate of 9% mortality is significantly lower than previous estimates between 27% and 42% in 2020 [ 1 , 13 ] and 40% in 2020–2021 [ 19 ]. The combination of the UK SARS-CoV-2 vaccination programme, effective treatment, and Omicron being associated with less severe disease [ 20 ] is likely to explain this improved mortality rate.…”

Anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in patients with or without SARS-CoV-2 infection after BNT162b2 vaccine booster

“…Universal coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination is now considered the most effective strategy to mitigate the unfavourable clinical and organizational consequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections, even within healthcare environments [1] . Recent evidence reinforces the concept that vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 is effective to limit the burden of healthcare-associated COVID-19 outbreaks [2] . Nonetheless, since it may be supposed that overlapping SARS-CoV-2 infections occurring after administration of vaccine booster doses may contribute to provide a further amplifying stimulus to the humoral response, we investigated the effect of post-booster SARS-CoV-2 infections on anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies elicited by a BNT162b2 vaccine booster in a cohort of baseline SARS-CoV-2-seronegative healthcare workers.…”

Preventing and controlling intra-hospital spread of COVID-19 in Taiwan – Looking back and moving forward

“… 32 Overall, a total of 26 hospitals among 495 hospitals in Taiwan reported 54 outbreaks of COVID-19 with 512 confirmed cases between January 2020 and July 2021. 19 The confirmed cases included HCP (19.5%), patients (39.3%), and accompanying persons (41.2%). The median number of affected cases per outbreak was 6 (interquartile range [IQR], 2–12), and the median outbreak duration was 12 days (IQR, 4.3–17.0).…”

“… 22 , 25 , 32 After implementing universal testing for newly admitted patients and their companions, as well as periodic testing of HCP in high-risk areas, there was a significant decrease in hospital outbreaks. 19 …”

“…Numerous COVID-19 outbreaks occurring in the healthcare settings can amplify transmission, endanger vulnerable patients, threaten occupational safety, and hamper the healthcare capacity. 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 The surge in COVID-19 cases increases the demands of healthcare capacity while the capacity remains limited and difficult to promptly increase. In addition, hospitalized COVID-19 cases might transmit the disease to HCP and other inpatients, which would further compromise the healthcare systems.…”