Session Type: ePosters
Session Title: ePosters
Authors(s): P. De Nardo (1), M. Tebon (1), A. Savoldi (1), L. Marasca (1), D. Peserico (2), D. Gibellini (3), A. Mazzariol (3), G. Verlato (4), S. Porru (5), R. Leone (6), E. Tacconelli (1)
Authors Affiliations(s): (1) Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy, Italy, (2) Clinical Biochemistry Section, Department of Neurological, Biomedical and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Italy, Italy, (3) Unit of Microbiology, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy, Italy, (4) Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Verona, Ital, Italy, (5) Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy, Italy, (6) Section of Pharmacology, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy, Italy
Background:
At the beginning of the second SARS-CoV-2 pandemic wave, starting from October 2020 onwards, the Italian government tailored containment measures at regional level according to the case dynamics. Regional surveillance focuses mainly on contact tracing and elderly in long-term care facilities. An ad hoc active surveillance to strengthen detection and monitor distribution of SARS-CoV-2 across not routinely surveyed fragile key-populations in the community was established in a 250,000 inhabitants city in the North East of Italy with the goal of optimising public health responses.
Methods:Prospective surveillance study. Participants aged >18 years belonging to targeted key-populations (female >75 years, male >65 years, bus/taxi drivers, homeless, social workers, supermarket employees, hospital cleaning/catering staff, students sharing university residences) were sampled and included in the cohort starting from November, 16th 2020. Each participant undergoes nasopharyngeal swab (SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay) and completes a questionnaire including demographic, epidemiological and clinical data every 3 weeks for a scheduled 24-week period. Participants with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were excluded from surveillance. Indicators were overall SARS-CoV-2 weekly incidence rate and positivity rate by key-population group.
Results:The cohort included 1483 subjects under periodic surveillance. Mean age was 50 years (± 17), 771 (52%) were female. None received SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Overall, the rate of new SARS-CoV-2 infection was 4.5% (66/1483), with the majority of subjects (38/66; 58%) being asymptomatic. The highest weekly incidence was 9% registered in the second week of December 2020. Stratified by key-population, highest incidence rate was 10% among homeless (19/192), 7% among hospital cleaning/catering staff (20/302), and 5% among supermarket employees (3/58), while the other groups showed a positivity rate < 3% (p value <0.000).
Conclusions:The findings reveal high circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in community populations not usually covered by screening policies, and mostly among asymptomatic individuals. Dedicated surveillance should be reinforced to cover homeless and hospital cleaning/catering personnel in order to support social protection measures for vulnerable groups and facilitate the organisation of temporary accommodation for the homeless. Active surveillance of fragile populations plays a pivotal role to help limiting SARS-CoV-2 spread in the community and becomes mandatory if restriction measures are eased.
Keyword(s): Community surveillance, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 targeted populationsSession Type: ePosters
Session Title: ePosters
Authors(s): P. De Nardo (1), M. Tebon (1), A. Savoldi (1), L. Marasca (1), D. Peserico (2), D. Gibellini (3), A. Mazzariol (3), G. Verlato (4), S. Porru (5), R. Leone (6), E. Tacconelli (1)
Authors Affiliations(s): (1) Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy, Italy, (2) Clinical Biochemistry Section, Department of Neurological, Biomedical and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Italy, Italy, (3) Unit of Microbiology, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy, Italy, (4) Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Verona, Ital, Italy, (5) Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy, Italy, (6) Section of Pharmacology, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy, Italy
Background:
At the beginning of the second SARS-CoV-2 pandemic wave, starting from October 2020 onwards, the Italian government tailored containment measures at regional level according to the case dynamics. Regional surveillance focuses mainly on contact tracing and elderly in long-term care facilities. An ad hoc active surveillance to strengthen detection and monitor distribution of SARS-CoV-2 across not routinely surveyed fragile key-populations in the community was established in a 250,000 inhabitants city in the North East of Italy with the goal of optimising public health responses.
Methods:Prospective surveillance study. Participants aged >18 years belonging to targeted key-populations (female >75 years, male >65 years, bus/taxi drivers, homeless, social workers, supermarket employees, hospital cleaning/catering staff, students sharing university residences) were sampled and included in the cohort starting from November, 16th 2020. Each participant undergoes nasopharyngeal swab (SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay) and completes a questionnaire including demographic, epidemiological and clinical data every 3 weeks for a scheduled 24-week period. Participants with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were excluded from surveillance. Indicators were overall SARS-CoV-2 weekly incidence rate and positivity rate by key-population group.
Results:The cohort included 1483 subjects under periodic surveillance. Mean age was 50 years (± 17), 771 (52%) were female. None received SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Overall, the rate of new SARS-CoV-2 infection was 4.5% (66/1483), with the majority of subjects (38/66; 58%) being asymptomatic. The highest weekly incidence was 9% registered in the second week of December 2020. Stratified by key-population, highest incidence rate was 10% among homeless (19/192), 7% among hospital cleaning/catering staff (20/302), and 5% among supermarket employees (3/58), while the other groups showed a positivity rate < 3% (p value <0.000).
Conclusions:The findings reveal high circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in community populations not usually covered by screening policies, and mostly among asymptomatic individuals. Dedicated surveillance should be reinforced to cover homeless and hospital cleaning/catering personnel in order to support social protection measures for vulnerable groups and facilitate the organisation of temporary accommodation for the homeless. Active surveillance of fragile populations plays a pivotal role to help limiting SARS-CoV-2 spread in the community and becomes mandatory if restriction measures are eased.
Keyword(s): Community surveillance, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 targeted populations
Session Type: ePosters
Session Title: ePosters
Authors(s): P. De Nardo (1), M. Tebon (1), A. Savoldi (1), L. Marasca (1), D. Peserico (2), D. Gibellini (3), A. Mazzariol (3), G. Verlato (4), S. Porru (5), R. Leone (6), E. Tacconelli (1)
Authors Affiliations(s): (1) Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy, Italy, (2) Clinical Biochemistry Section, Department of Neurological, Biomedical and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Italy, Italy, (3) Unit of Microbiology, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy, Italy, (4) Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Verona, Ital, Italy, (5) Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy, Italy, (6) Section of Pharmacology, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy, Italy
Background:
At the beginning of the second SARS-CoV-2 pandemic wave, starting from October 2020 onwards, the Italian government tailored containment measures at regional level according to the case dynamics. Regional surveillance focuses mainly on contact tracing and elderly in long-term care facilities. An ad hoc active surveillance to strengthen detection and monitor distribution of SARS-CoV-2 across not routinely surveyed fragile key-populations in the community was established in a 250,000 inhabitants city in the North East of Italy with the goal of optimising public health responses.
Methods:Prospective surveillance study. Participants aged >18 years belonging to targeted key-populations (female >75 years, male >65 years, bus/taxi drivers, homeless, social workers, supermarket employees, hospital cleaning/catering staff, students sharing university residences) were sampled and included in the cohort starting from November, 16th 2020. Each participant undergoes nasopharyngeal swab (SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay) and completes a questionnaire including demographic, epidemiological and clinical data every 3 weeks for a scheduled 24-week period. Participants with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were excluded from surveillance. Indicators were overall SARS-CoV-2 weekly incidence rate and positivity rate by key-population group.
Results:The cohort included 1483 subjects under periodic surveillance. Mean age was 50 years (± 17), 771 (52%) were female. None received SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Overall, the rate of new SARS-CoV-2 infection was 4.5% (66/1483), with the majority of subjects (38/66; 58%) being asymptomatic. The highest weekly incidence was 9% registered in the second week of December 2020. Stratified by key-population, highest incidence rate was 10% among homeless (19/192), 7% among hospital cleaning/catering staff (20/302), and 5% among supermarket employees (3/58), while the other groups showed a positivity rate < 3% (p value <0.000).
Conclusions:The findings reveal high circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in community populations not usually covered by screening policies, and mostly among asymptomatic individuals. Dedicated surveillance should be reinforced to cover homeless and hospital cleaning/catering personnel in order to support social protection measures for vulnerable groups and facilitate the organisation of temporary accommodation for the homeless. Active surveillance of fragile populations plays a pivotal role to help limiting SARS-CoV-2 spread in the community and becomes mandatory if restriction measures are eased.
Keyword(s): Community surveillance, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 targeted populationsSession Type: ePosters
Session Title: ePosters
Authors(s): P. De Nardo (1), M. Tebon (1), A. Savoldi (1), L. Marasca (1), D. Peserico (2), D. Gibellini (3), A. Mazzariol (3), G. Verlato (4), S. Porru (5), R. Leone (6), E. Tacconelli (1)
Authors Affiliations(s): (1) Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy, Italy, (2) Clinical Biochemistry Section, Department of Neurological, Biomedical and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Italy, Italy, (3) Unit of Microbiology, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy, Italy, (4) Unit of Epidemiology and Medical Statistics, University of Verona, Ital, Italy, (5) Section of Occupational Medicine, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy, Italy, (6) Section of Pharmacology, Department of Diagnostics and Public Health, University of Verona, Italy, Italy
Background:
At the beginning of the second SARS-CoV-2 pandemic wave, starting from October 2020 onwards, the Italian government tailored containment measures at regional level according to the case dynamics. Regional surveillance focuses mainly on contact tracing and elderly in long-term care facilities. An ad hoc active surveillance to strengthen detection and monitor distribution of SARS-CoV-2 across not routinely surveyed fragile key-populations in the community was established in a 250,000 inhabitants city in the North East of Italy with the goal of optimising public health responses.
Methods:Prospective surveillance study. Participants aged >18 years belonging to targeted key-populations (female >75 years, male >65 years, bus/taxi drivers, homeless, social workers, supermarket employees, hospital cleaning/catering staff, students sharing university residences) were sampled and included in the cohort starting from November, 16th 2020. Each participant undergoes nasopharyngeal swab (SARS-CoV-2 real-time reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction assay) and completes a questionnaire including demographic, epidemiological and clinical data every 3 weeks for a scheduled 24-week period. Participants with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were excluded from surveillance. Indicators were overall SARS-CoV-2 weekly incidence rate and positivity rate by key-population group.
Results:The cohort included 1483 subjects under periodic surveillance. Mean age was 50 years (± 17), 771 (52%) were female. None received SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. Overall, the rate of new SARS-CoV-2 infection was 4.5% (66/1483), with the majority of subjects (38/66; 58%) being asymptomatic. The highest weekly incidence was 9% registered in the second week of December 2020. Stratified by key-population, highest incidence rate was 10% among homeless (19/192), 7% among hospital cleaning/catering staff (20/302), and 5% among supermarket employees (3/58), while the other groups showed a positivity rate < 3% (p value <0.000).
Conclusions:The findings reveal high circulation of SARS-CoV-2 in community populations not usually covered by screening policies, and mostly among asymptomatic individuals. Dedicated surveillance should be reinforced to cover homeless and hospital cleaning/catering personnel in order to support social protection measures for vulnerable groups and facilitate the organisation of temporary accommodation for the homeless. Active surveillance of fragile populations plays a pivotal role to help limiting SARS-CoV-2 spread in the community and becomes mandatory if restriction measures are eased.
Keyword(s): Community surveillance, SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19 targeted populations