SARS-CoV-2 infection in mortuary and cemetery workers

Alishaq, Moza; Jeremijenko, Andrew; Nafady-Hego, Hanaa; Ajmi, Jameela Ali Al; Elgendy, Mohamed; Fadel, Rayyan Abdulaziz Attya; Thomas, Anil George; Alahmed, Mohammed A.A.; Ammar, Adham; Bensaad, Meryem; Al-Barghouthi, Bayan; Coyle, Peter; Elgendy, Hamed; Abou‐Samra, Abdul‐Badi; Butt, Adeel A.

doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2021.03.012

Cited by 12 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 17 publications

(19 reference statements)

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“…However, HCWs are a heterogenous population and the risk of infection may vary based on multiple factors. Perhaps the most important of these is the level of community exposure, which in turn depends on the social, cultural, and economic factors and personal attitudes towards infection prevention measures [ 16 ]. Our finding of a higher rate and risk of infection among employees with lower job grades is likely a reflection of personal accommodation and exposure.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection and seroprevalence among clinical and non-clinical staff in a national healthcare system

et al. 2021

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Background While many studies have reported the rate and risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection among healthcare workers (HCWs), there are scant data regarding the impact of employment type and job grades upon such risk. Methods We determined the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection based on a positive nasopharyngeal swab (NPS) PCR among employees of a large national healthcare system. Antibody testing was performed on those who agreed to provide a blood sample. Using logistic regression analysis, we determined the risk of infection (PCR+) associated with demographic characteristics, job family and job grade. Results We identified 35,075 staff (30,849 full-time, 4,226 outsourced) between March 1-October 31, 2020. Among full-time employees, 78.0% had a NPS (11.8% positive). Among outsourced staff, 94.4% had a NPS (31.1% positive). Antibody testing was performed on 33.9% full-time employees (13.0% reactive), and on 39.1% of the outsourced staff (47.0% reactive). PCR-positivity was higher among outsourced staff (31.0% vs. 18.3% in non-clinical and 9.0% in clinical full-time employees) and those in the low-grade vs. mid-grade and high-grade job categories. Male sex (OR 1.88), non-clinical job family (OR 1.21), low-grade job category (OR 3.71) and being an outsourced staff (OR 2.09) were associated with a higher risk of infection. Conclusion HCWs are a diverse population with varying risk of infection. Clinical staff are at a lower risk likely due to increased awareness and infection prevention measures. Risk is higher for those in the lower socioeconomic strata. Infection is more likely to occur in non-healthcare setting than within the healthcare facilities.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prevalence and risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection and seroprevalence among clinical and non-clinical staff in a national healthcare system

et al. 2021

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“…9 ) enhances the need for the treatment of biological fluids (necroslurry) generated by the decomposition of cadavers (Rajan et al, 2019 ). These generated effluents tend to increase due to the increasing number of deaths from COVID-19 that began at the end of 2019 (Alishaq et al, 2021 ; Berkley, 2020 ; Fauci et al, 2020 ). According to Haque ( 2020 ) and Kleywegt et al ( 2019 ), an adequate effluent treatment system needs to comply with the environmental legislation of the country in which they will be installed.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Through monitoring of a single SP urban cemetery, located in the central area of the city, an average of 100 burials per day resulting from COVID-19 deaths were detected (Calmon, 2020 ). This quantitative problem of burials in cemeteries, responsible for the dispersion of contaminants in the soil, was further aggravated at the end of 2019, all of 2020, an into 2021 with the early burials caused by the COVID-19 epidemic, a consequence of the high human mortality rates due to severe acute respiratory syndrome, triggered by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, commonly known as coronavirus (Alishaq et al, 2021 ; Berkley, 2020 ; Fauci et al, 2020 ). As of July 16, 2021, the official global World Health Association death toll from COVID-19 totaled 4,067,517 individuals (WHO, 2021 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Metals in the soil of urban cemeteries in Carazinho (South Brazil) in view of the increase in deaths from COVID-19: projects for cemeteries to mitigate environmental impacts

Neckel

Korcelski

Silva

et al. 2021

Environ Dev Sustain

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The increasing mortality of COVID-19 can aggravate soil contamination by metals, harmful to the health of the population, requiring new projects for future cemeteries capable of mitigating these impacts to the environment, justifying the importance of studying the concentrations of metals in the soil of urban cemeteries. The paper analyzed the levels of metals in the soil of urban cemeteries in the City of Carazinho, in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, located in southern Brazil, considering the increase in deaths by COVID-19, for the purpose of future projects for cemeteries aimed at mitigating the impacts generated on the environment. The soils of the three urban cemeteries in Carazinho were sampled, with 5 internal and external points, with 3 repetitions at depths of 0–20 and 20–40 cm, adding 180 samples to measure the concentrations of Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cr and Pb (g kg −1 ), considering the analytical sequence: (1) analysis in triplicate with mean deviation (RDS); (2) R2 of the analytical curve; (3) traceability of the pattern of each metal; (4) quantification limit of each metal (QL), with the performance of nitroperchloric digestion of the samples and the determinations of metals by flame modality atomic absorption spectrometry. Quantitative data on deaths by COVID-19 were analyzed by univariate modeling of time series, in the integrated autoregressive moving averages model. The results of this study were made available to fifteen architects, who attributed future solutions for environmentally sustainable cemeteries. The results showed high levels of copper (Cu) and iron (Fe) in the soil of the cemeteries studied. Considering the increase in deaths and subsequent burials per COVID-19 revealed a prediction for the death toll of 6,082,306 for June 9, 2022, it is assumed that metal contamination can reach even higher levels. To mitigate these levels of contamination by metals, 80% of the architect respondents expressed their preference for a vertical cemetery, with treatment of gases and effluents to mitigate environmental impacts.

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“…Since the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, studies [15, 16] among front-line employees primarily included healthcare workers. But other groups of front-line employees are at risk of being infected during work [17, 18].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk of COVID-19 infection and work place exposure of front-line mass media professionals

Tahura

Banu

Akter

et al. 2021

Preprint

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Introduction: Mass media plays a crucial role in creating awareness and knowledge sharing in this Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, the risk of exposure and extent of COVID-19 infection among media professional are less elucidated yet. Therefore, this study was intended to investigate the workplace-related risk of COVID-19 exposure and the association between exposure to COVID-19 and participant's characteristics, including various forms of respiratory protection for mass-media professionals. Methods: This closed web-based cross-sectional survey was conducted among 199 mass-media professionals in Bangladesh by snowball sampling approach. A multivariate logistic regression model was used for the analytical exploration. Adjusted and Unadjusted Odds Ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated for the specified exposures. Chi-square test was used to observe the association. Ethical issues were maintained according to the guidance of the declaration of the Helsinki. Results: Of all, 39.2% of mass-media professionals were tested positive for COVID-19, whereas 6% of symptomatic or suspected participants did not do the test. Mass media professionals who worked in electronic media reported more COVID-19 infection (adjusted odds ratio, AOR= 6.25; 95% Confidence interval: Lower limit 1.43, upper limit 27.43; P =0.02). However, no significant relationship was found between the type of job role and COVID-19 infection. Furthermore, infected colleagues (OR/P=1.92/0.04) were identified as significant contact of acquiring infection. However, the study result showed that reused/new medical mask, homemade/cloth-made mask (vs. use of respirator mask) was not significantly (p=0.82) associated with mass media professional's infection. Conclusions: Professionals working in electronic media were at higher risk of being infected by COVID-19 and mostly acquired from infected colleagues. Using a respirator mask was not associated with a lower risk of test positive infection in mass media professionals. This study will aid the policy maker and public health authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic to make proper implementation strategies. Keywords: COVID-19 infection, Work place exposure, Mass media professionals, Front-liners, SARS-CoV-2.

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SARS-CoV-2 infection in mortuary and cemetery workers

Cited by 12 publications

References 17 publications

Prevalence and risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection and seroprevalence among clinical and non-clinical staff in a national healthcare system

Prevalence and risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection and seroprevalence among clinical and non-clinical staff in a national healthcare system

Metals in the soil of urban cemeteries in Carazinho (South Brazil) in view of the increase in deaths from COVID-19: projects for cemeteries to mitigate environmental impacts

Risk of COVID-19 infection and work place exposure of front-line mass media professionals

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