Coronavirus Disease 2019 Exposure Research Articles

Pre-exposure prophylaxis and telemedicine during coronavirus (COVID-19): a qualitative study of the experiences of health care professionals in Mexico.

Background Telemedicine, which involves utilising technologies for remote health care delivery, proved useful to continue offering certain health services during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown. However, the extent of its effectiveness in delivering pre-exposure prophylaxis services for HIV prevention remains underexplored from the viewpoint of health care providers. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the experiences of health care professionals in Mexico who utilised telemedicine for delivering pre-exposure prophylaxis services during the COVID-19 contingency. Methods A qualitative study was performed: 15 virtual interviews with health care professionals were conducted, transcribed and coded in ATLAS.ti. Results The results indicate that telemedicine effectively mitigated COVID-19 exposure, facilitated users' access to pre-exposure prophylaxis counselling, minimised waiting times and enhanced health care professionals' perceived control during sessions. While implementing remote services, certain organisational challenges, which were somewhat latent before the pandemic, became more apparent: colleagues recognised the necessity for more formal communication channels to disseminate information effectively. Additionally, there was a recognised need for electronic patient files to streamline data-sharing processes. An optimal approach would involve a blend of face-to-face and virtual services, contingent upon the availability of essential infrastructure, well-defined implementation protocols and comprehensive training programs. Conclusions Telemedicine streamlined certain processes, garnered positive acceptance from healthcare professionals and holds promise as a valuable post-pandemic tool for improving retention among pre-exposure prophylaxis users.

Application of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Isolation Directives for Patients Exposed to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remain an ongoing public health concern. Although directives are subject to change, nurse practitioners must have a strong working knowledge of COVID-19 precaution and isolation directives to counsel patients on proper implementation of precaution and isolation strategies. This article informs clinicians regarding some input that informs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 isolation directives, provides a review of the most recent directives to symptomatic and asymptomatic patients testing positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, discusses the use of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 Isolation and Exposure Calculator; and examines the NP’s role in guiding future research and public health initiatives.

Severe pediatric COVID-19: a review from the clinical and immunopathophysiological perspectives.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) tends to have mild presentations in children. However, severe and critical cases do arise in the pediatric population with debilitating systemic impacts and can be fatal at times, meriting further attention from clinicians. Meanwhile, the intricate interactions between the pathogen virulence factors and host defense mechanisms are believed to play indispensable roles in severe COVID-19 pathophysiology but remain incompletely understood. A comprehensive literature review was conducted for pertinent publications by reviewers independently using the PubMed, Embase, and Wanfang databases. Searched keywords included "COVID-19 in children", "severe pediatric COVID-19", and "critical illness in children with COVID-19". Risks of developing severe COVID-19 in children escalate with increasing numbers of co-morbidities and an unvaccinated status. Acute respiratory distress stress and necrotizing pneumonia are prominent pulmonary manifestations, while various forms of cardiovascular and neurological involvement may also be seen. Multiple immunological processes are implicated in the host response to COVID-19 including the type I interferon and inflammasome pathways, whose dysregulation in severe and critical diseases translates into adverse clinical manifestations. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a potentially life-threatening immune-mediated condition chronologically associated with COVID-19 exposure, denotes another scientific and clinical conundrum that exemplifies the complexity of pediatric immunity. Despite the considerable dissimilarities between the pediatric and adult immune systems, clinical trials dedicated to children are lacking and current management recommendations are largely adapted from adult guidelines. Severe pediatric COVID-19 can affect multiple organ systems. The dysregulated immune pathways in severe COVID-19 shape the disease course, epitomize the vast functional diversity of the pediatric immune system and highlight the immunophenotypical differences between children and adults. Consequently, further research may be warranted to adequately address them in pediatric-specific clinical practice guidelines.

SARS-CoV-2 Accessory Protein Orf7b Induces Lung Injury via c-Myc Mediated Apoptosis and Ferroptosis.

The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been the foremost modern global public health challenge. The airway is the primary target in severe acute respiratory distress syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, with substantial cell death and lung injury being signature hallmarks of exposure. The viral factors that contribute to cell death and lung injury remain incompletely understood. Thus, this study investigated the role of open reading frame 7b (Orf7b), an accessory protein of the virus, in causing lung injury. In screening viral proteins, we identified Orf7b as one of the major viral factors that mediates lung epithelial cell death. Overexpression of Orf7b leads to apoptosis and ferroptosis in lung epithelial cells, and inhibitors of apoptosis and ferroptosis ablate Orf7b-induced cell death. Orf7b upregulates the transcription regulator, c-Myc, which is integral in the activation of lung cell death pathways. Depletion of c-Myc alleviates both apoptotic and ferroptotic cell deaths and lung injury in mouse models. Our study suggests a major role of Orf7b in the cell death and lung injury attributable to COVID-19 exposure, supporting it as a potential therapeutic target.

Assessing COVID-related concerns and their impact on antenatal and delivery care among pregnant women living with HIV in Kenya: a brief report

BackgroundSome studies indicate that pregnant Kenyan women were concerned about Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exposure during maternity care. We assessed concern regarding COVID-19 exposure and any impact on antenatal care (ANC) enrollment and/or hospital delivery among pregnant women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Kenya.MethodsData were collected from 1,478 pregnant women living with HIV enrolled in prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) care at 12 Kenyan hospitals from October 2020 to July 2022. Surveys were conducted when women first presented for PMTCT services at the study hospital and asked demographic questions as well as items related to concerns about COVID-19. A 5-point Likert scale (strongly disagree to strongly agree) assessed concerns about COVID-19 exposure and travel challenges. Gestational age at PMTCT enrollment, number of ANC appointments attended, and delivery location were compared among women who expressed COVID-19 concerns and those who did not.ResultsFew women reported delaying antenatal care (4.7%), attending fewer antenatal care appointments (5.0%), or having concerns about a hospital-based delivery (7.7%) because of COVID-19. More (25.8%) reported travel challenges because of COVID-19. There were no significant differences in gestational age at enrollment, number of ANC appointments, or rates of hospital-based delivery between women with concerns about COVID-19 and those without,ConclusionFew pregnant women living with HIV expressed concerns about COVID-19 exposure in the context of routine ANC or delivery care. Women with and without concerns had similar care seeking behaviors. The recognized importance of routine ANC care and facility-based deliveries may have contributed to these positive pregnancy indicators, even among women who worried about COVID-19 exposure.Trial registrationwww.clinicaltrials.gov identifier NCT04571684.

A PHOTOVOICE STUDY OF THE EXPERIENCES OF BIPOC OLDER ADULTS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Abstract The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic intensified the stressful and already difficult circumstances of communities of color. Yet, no current photovoice research has highlighted the lived experiences of low-income Black, Indigenous, and persons of color (BIPOC) older adults during the pandemic. This qualitative study used photovoice to visually portray the struggles of low-income BIPOC older adults and how they recovered from and adapted to the impact of the pandemic. The data analyzed were drawn from interviews, focus groups, photographs, and written stories exploring their experiences and how they found meaning. Results show that participants faced different challenges during the pandemic, such as the fear of COVID-19 exposure and death, struggles to adopt COVID-19 mitigation strategies, loneliness, and social isolation. Amid this crisis of suffering, isolation, and sadness, participants found meaning through a positive reappraisal of the negative situation and engaging in emotional, spiritual, social, and physical self-care practices. The findings have implications for clinical social workers, mental health counselors, faith communities, nurse managers and administrators, and policymakers.

Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on hospital admissions for epistaxis in Germany.

Reports of a decrease in hospital admissions during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown period have raised concerns about delayed or missed diagnoses and treatments for non-COVID-19-related illnesses. To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic-induced lockdown and its end on hospital admissions of patients with epistaxis in Germany. A retrospective analysis based on the national database of the Hospital Remuneration System was used to compare hospital admissions during defined time periods between 2019 and 2022 with the lockdown period as the reference period. This was done on a weekly basis before, during, and after the lockdown. An Interrupted Time Series was used as the analysis method. In our analysis, we included 26183 patients. The implementation of the lockdown led to a substantial reduction in the overall occurrence of epistaxis among patients (P < 0.05). This effect was most pronounced in the age group of 0-39 years, where the decrease was highly significant (P < 0.001). However, there was no change observed in patients aged 80 years and older (not significant). With the end of the lockdown period, the overall number of patients, especially in the youngest age group, increased abruptly and significantly (P < 0.01). During the lockdown period, there was a decrease in hospital admissions for younger patients with epistaxis, possibly due to the fear of COVID-19 exposure. We also conclude that the severity of epistaxis was not underestimated in the elderly during the pandemic.

Maternal Seroprevalence and Placental Transfer of COVID-19 Antibodies in Pregnancy: A Hospital-Based Study.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a relatively new disease with high morbidity and mortality.Information about the prevalence of infections in pregnancy could help identify herd immunity, project epidemics, and decide policy guidelines. The aim of this study was to determine the infection susceptibility risk of COVID-19 in pregnancy, to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 antibodies (IgG & IgM), and to evaluate the determinants of COVID-19 antibody positivity in pregnancy. This was an analytical cross-sectional study involving 258 consenting pregnant women recruited at Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Edo State, Nigeria. Of these, 179 participants were recruited from the antenatal clinic, and 79 from the gynecology emergency unit. A structured questionnaire was administered at baseline. Venous blood was obtained at enrolment to test for total antibodies using ELISA. A nasopharyngeal swab was simultaneously obtained for COVID-19 PCR for all participants. Umbilical cord blood was taken after delivery in those who had positive serology. Socio-demographic variables and clinical presentation of respondents were considered as exposure variables, and this was cross-tabulated with outcome variables in bivariate analysis using chi-square with a level of significance at a P-value less than 0.05. Variables in bivariate analysis of chi-square that have a P-value less than 0.2 were entered into a logistic regression using multivariate logistic models. The study detected active COVID-19 infections among 7.4% (19/258) of the study participants. The study demonstrated a seroprevalence of COVID-19 antibodies in 62.4% (161/258) of the participants at recruitment and showed a strong correlation between working in the healthcare setting and living in an urban environment. Our study also reported 5.3% (8/152) of cord blood antibody positivity among study participants. The concentration of maternal immunoglobulin strongly and positively correlated with cord blood seropositivity. Prevalence estimates are an underestimate of the actual proportion of pregnant women with prior COVID-19 exposure as observed in the study discrepancy of confirmed PCR infection and evidence of previous infection from serology. The study also highlighted a low efficiency of placental transfer of COVID-19 antibodies at birth among those who were seropositive at baseline and showed that maternal antibody levels play an important role in determining the efficiency of placenta transfer of COVID-19 antibodies in pregnancy.

Cohort profile: investigating SARS-CoV-2 infection and the health and psychosocial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Canadian CHILD Cohort.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected all Canadian families, with some impacted differently than others. Our study aims to: (1) determine the prevalence and transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among Canadian families, (2) identify predictors of infection susceptibility and severity of SARS-CoV-2, and (3) identify health and psychosocial impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This study builds upon the CHILD Cohort Study, an ongoing multi-ethnic general population prospective cohort consisting of 3,454 Canadian families with children born in Vancouver, Edmonton, Manitoba, and Toronto between 2009 and 2012. During the pandemic, CHILD households were invited to participate in the CHILD COVID-19 Add-On Study involving: (1) brief biweekly surveys about COVID-19 symptoms and testing; (2) quarterly questionnaires assessing COVID-19 exposure and testing, vaccination status, physical and mental health, and pandemic-driven life changes; and (3) in-home biological sampling kits to collect blood and stool. In total, 1,462 households (5,378 participants) consented to the CHILD COVID-19 Add-On Study: 2,803 children (mean±standard deviation [SD], 9.0±2.7 years; range, 0-17 years) and 2,576 adults (mean±SD, 43.0±6.5 years; range, 18-85 years). We will leverage the wealth of pre-pandemic CHILD data to identify risk and resilience factors for susceptibility and severity to the direct and indirect pandemic effects. Our short-term findings will inform key stakeholders and knowledge users to shape current and future pandemic responses. Additionally, this study provides a unique resource to study the long-term impacts of the pandemic as the CHILD Cohort Study continues.

OR15-04 Accelerated Longitudinal Weight Gain Among Infants With In Utero COVID-19 Exposure

Abstract Disclosure: M.W. Ockene: None. S.C. Russo: None. H. Lee: None. C. Monthé-Drèze: None. T.L. Stanley: Consulting Fee; Self; RosVivo Therapeutics. Grant Recipient; Self; Pfizer, Inc. I.L. Ma: None. M. Toribio: None. L.L. Shook: None. S.K. Grinspoon: Consulting Fee; Self; Theratechnologies. A.G. Edlow: Consulting Fee; Self; Mirvie, Inc. Grant Recipient; Self; Merck. L.T. Fourman: Consulting Fee; Self; Amryt Pharmaceuticals. Grant Recipient; Self; Amryt Pharmaceuticals. Background: Since its initial outbreak in 2019, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has led to unprecedented morbidity and mortality worldwide. Due to a high burden of infection among pregnant women, a novel population of children with in utero exposure to maternal COVID-19 has emerged for which health outcomes are largely unknown. Given the role of the intrauterine environment in shaping chronic disease risk over the life course through effects on fetal programming, there is a pressing need to delineate longitudinal growth patterns among infants born to mothers with COVID-19 during pregnancy. Methods: We conducted a longitudinal cohort study leveraging a prospectively-enrolled perinatal biorepository among 149 infants with in utero exposure to maternal COVID-19 and 127 unexposed controls. Weight, length, and BMI were abstracted from health records at 0, 2 (±0.5), 6 (±1), and 12 (±1) months and standardized using World Health Organization (WHO) growth charts. Linear mixed effect and linear regression models were used to examine differences in anthropometric z-score trajectories over the first year of life between groups. Analyses were adjusted for maternal age, ethnicity, parity, insurance type, and BMI as well as infant sex, birthdate, and breastfeeding. Our pre-specified primary endpoint was change in BMI z-score from birth to 12 months. Results: Infants with in utero COVID-19 exposure versus controls exhibited differential trajectories of weight and BMI, but not length, z-scores over the first year of life (study group x time interaction, P &amp;lt; 0.0001 for weight and BMI z-scores). Infants born to mothers with prenatal COVID-19 had lower BMI z-score at birth (effect size: -0.35, 95% CI, -0.66 to -0.03) and greater increase in BMI z-score from birth to 12 months (effect size: 0.53, 95% CI, 0.06 to 0.99). Change in BMI z-score was greater than the WHO population average of 0 within the exposed (P &amp;lt; 0.0001) but not the unexposed group. Birth weight z-score was found to mediate a significant proportion of the relationship between COVID-19 exposure and postnatal growth (estimate ± standard error, 32 ± 14%, P = 0.02). Conclusions: Infants with in utero exposure to maternal COVID-19 were found to exhibit lower birth weight and accelerated weight gain over the first year of life compared to their unexposed peers. The exaggerated growth trajectory observed in these children may be a catch-up response to a prenatal growth deficit. Lower birth weight and accelerated postnatal weight gain are established risk factors for obesity, abdominal adiposity, and cardiovascular disease later in life. Thus, children born to mothers with prenatal COVID-19 may be at heightened risk of long-term cardiometabolic complications and require close monitoring over the life course. Further studies are now needed to delineate cardiometabolic sequelae of in utero COVID-19 exposure among this emerging global population. Presentation: Friday, June 16, 2023

Gebelikten önce COVID-19 geçirenlerde ilk trimester uterine arter direnci, plasental volüm ve gebelik sonuçlarının incelenmesi

Aim&#x0D; There are studies showing that acquiring Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) while pregnant might cause vascular damage, affect uterine blood circulation, and worsen pregnancy outcomes. In this study, we looked at the first-trimester placental development and pregnancy outcomes in people who conceived after getting better from COVID-19. We also looked into the durability of the COVID-19's effects on pregnancy.&#x0D; Matherials and Methods&#x0D; This prospective case-control study investigates placental volume and uterine artery Doppler flow differences in pregnant women with COVID-19 exposure within a year prior to pregnancy versus healthy pregnant controls.&#x0D; Result&#x0D; In a study involving 50 patients and 50 controls, it was discovered that demographic traits like age, birth rate, and body mass index were comparable. There were statistically insignificant slight differences in these results when different outcomes, including as oligohydramnios, preterm, preeclampsia, and intrauterine growth retardation, were studied. While birth weight revealed similarity between the two groups, placental volume and uterine artery Doppler results did not reveal any appreciable variations.&#x0D; Conclusion&#x0D; No distinction between the groups' placental or Doppler readings was found in the investigation that was completed. This work has helped identify the impacts of COVID-19 contracted prior to pregnancy on gestation, whereas previous study has mainly focused on the impact of COVID-19 infected during pregnancy.

COVID-19 exposure and psychosis: A comparison of clinical, functional, and cognitive profiles in remitted patients with psychosis

The impact of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) on psychiatric care in remitted patients with first-episode psychosis (FEP) remains unknown. This study compared the demographic, clinical, functional, and cognitive profiles of patients recruited before and during the pandemic. The results showed that COVID patients were significantly older, smokers, alcohol users, experienced more stressors, with better functioning than pre-COVID patients. The former also had fewer severe negative and general psychopathological symptoms, more impaired insight, poorer medication compliance, and worse cognitive performance. Our findings highlighted a timely need to improve awareness into the illness and treatment in FEP patients experiencing pandemic related stressors.

Perspectives on the Use of Telegenetics Services in the Philippines

Perspectives on the Use of Telegenetics Services in the Philippines

High seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in healthcare workers in COVID-19 wards indicates an occupational hazard-a prospective cohort study during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Kalmar County, Sweden.

The aim of this study is to report the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in healthcare workers with various risk of occupational exposure in Kalmar County, Sweden, during the first year of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. We performed SARS-CoV-2 antibody measurements at four time points, from May 2020 to May 2021, in 401 healthcare workers (HCW) at seven hospital wards and two residential care facilities, with different risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Overall, the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in HCW in Kalmar County was high compared to similar studies from other countries and increased from May 2020 to May 2021. Initially, 14% of the participants were SARS-CoV-2 seropositive. This number increased to 18% in September and 21% in December 2020. In May 2021, the prevalence of antibodies to nucleocapsid antigen had increased to 28%, while antibodies to spike protein had increased to 95% due to vaccination. A large variation in seroprevalence between different wards was detected and HCW in a COVID-19 designated ward had significantly higher seroprevalence than HCW working in wards without COVID-19 patients, with a risk ratio of 7.28, (95% CI 2.38-22.33) in May 2020. Our findings suggest a relationship between occupational COVID-19 exposure and seropositivity which implies that efficient hygiene routines for health- and social care workers are essential to avoid that COVID-19 care will constitute an occupational hazard.

Changes in early postoperative outcomes and complications observed in a single center during the 2022 COVID-19 pandemic wave in China: A single-center ambispective cohort study.

Currently, the effect of the 2022 nationwide coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) wave on the perioperative prognosis of surgical patients in China is unclear. Thus, we aimed to explore its influence on postoperative morbidity and mortality in surgical patients. An ambispective cohort study was conducted at Xijing Hospital, China. We collected 10-day time-series data from December 29 until January 7 for the 2018-2022 period. The primary outcome was major postoperative complications (Clavien-Dindo class III-V). The association between COVID-19 exposure and postoperative prognosis was explored by comparing consecutive 5-year data at the population level and by comparing patients with and without COVID-19 exposure at the patient level. The entire cohort consisted of 3350 patients (age: 48.5 ± 19.2 years), including 1759 females (52.5%). Overall, 961 (28.7%) underwent emergency surgery, and 553 (16.5%) had COVID-19 exposure (from the 2022 cohort). At the population level, major postoperative complications occurred in 5.9% (42/707), 5.7% (53/935), 5.1% (46/901), 9.4% (11/117), and 22.0% (152/690) patients in the 2018-2022 cohorts, respectively. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the 2022 cohort (80% patients with COVID-19 history) had a significantly higher postoperative major complication risk than did the 2018 cohort (adjusted risk difference [aRD], 14.9% (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.5-18.4%); adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 8.19 (95% CI, 5.24-12.81)). At the patient level, the incidence of major postoperative complications was significantly greater in patients with (24.6%, 136/553) than that in patients without COVID-19 history (6.0% [168/2797]; aRD, 17.8% [95% CI, 13.6-22.1%]; aOR, 7.89 [95% CI, 5.76-10.83]). Secondary outcomes of postoperative pulmonary complications were consistent with primary findings. These findings were verified through sensitivity analyses using time-series data projections and propensity score matching. Based on a single-center observation, patients with recent COVID-19 exposure were likely to have a high incidence of major postoperative complications. NCT05677815 at https://clinicaltrials.gov/.

Influence of maternal psychological distress during COVID-19 pandemic on placental morphometry and texture

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been accompanied by increased prenatal maternal distress (PMD). PMD is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes which may be mediated by the placenta. However, the potential impact of the pandemic on in vivo placental development remains unknown. To examine the impact of the pandemic and PMD on in vivo structural placental development using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), acquired anatomic images of the placenta from 63 pregnant women without known COVID-19 exposure during the pandemic and 165 pre-pandemic controls. Measures of placental morphometry and texture were extracted. PMD was determined from validated questionnaires. Generalized estimating equations were utilized to compare differences in PMD placental features between COVID-era and pre-pandemic cohorts. Maternal stress and depression scores were significantly higher in the pandemic cohort. Placental volume, thickness, gray level kurtosis, skewness and run length non-uniformity were increased in the pandemic cohort, while placental elongation, mean gray level and long run emphasis were decreased. PMD was a mediator of the association between pandemic status and placental features. Altered in vivo placental structure during the pandemic suggests an underappreciated link between disturbances in maternal environment and perturbed placental development. The long-term impact on offspring is currently under investigation.

Using an Exposure Call Center to Help Mitigate Outbreaks, Such as COVID-19, on a University Campus.

Rapid identification and management of close contacts is an important component of an effective university mitigation strategy for highly contagious infectious diseases such as measles and coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Institutions of higher education must plan for an associated large influx of calls that can overwhelm standard student health and local public health operations. In fall 2020, a large state public university's Department of Student Health and Wellness created a dedicated exposure call center (ECC), in close collaboration with the local public health department, to quickly assess students who learned of a COVID-19 exposure outside of the formal contact tracing process. The ECC operated 7 days a week and fielded 3361 calls: 3187 from students and 174 from staff, faculty, and parents. The ECC provided rapid assessment and guidance for students with COVID-19 exposure, allowing for prompt quarantine and medical assessment when warranted. Call centers can increase the bandwidth of university health centers and also reduce the burden on health care providers and other public health resources during periods of crisis or high demand.

Neonatal Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome Associated with COVID-19 Exposure in Two Cases from Iran

Introduction: Immune dysregulation happens after exposure to corona virus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and affects many organs. It is confirmed with a positive COVID-19 test history, fever, and the involvement of 2 or more organs, but it is hard to diagnose in neonates. Case Presentation: There were 2 Persian neonates admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit or neonatal ward of the Children’s Medical Center, Tehran, Iran, with sepsis in this case presentation. The trunk and extremities were affected by macular rashes in both cases. COVID-19 tests in both cases were negative, but both of their mothers were affected by COVID-19 before delivery. In both cases, systemic and macular rashes responded to corticosteroids. Conclusions: Macular rash can present multisystem inflammatory disease in neonates. Neonates with a positive history of COVID-19 in parents or relatives should be considered for this syndrome.

Knowledge, beliefs, and practices related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection and vaccination in healthcare personnel working at nonacute care facilities.

To characterize experiences, beliefs, and perceptions of risk related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), infection prevention practices, and COVID-19 vaccination among healthcare personnel (HCP) at nonacute care facilities. Anonymous survey. Three non-acute-care facilities in St. Louis, Missouri. In total, 156 HCP responded to the survey, for a 25.6% participation rate). Among them, 32% had direct patient-care roles. Anonymous surveys were distributed between April-May 2021. Data were collected on demographics, work experience, COVID-19 exposure, knowledge, and beliefs about infection prevention, personal protective equipment (PPE) use, COVID-19 vaccination, and the impact of COVID-19. Nearly all respondents reported adequate knowledge of how to protect oneself from COVID-19 at work (97%) and had access to adequate PPE supplies (95%). Many HCP reported that wearing a mask or face shield made communication difficult (59%), that they had taken on additional responsibilities due to staff shortages (56%), and that their job became more stressful because of COVID-19 (53%). Moreover, 28% had considered quitting their job. Most respondents (78%) had received at least 1 dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Common reasons for vaccination were a desire to protect family and friends (84%) and a desire to stop the spread of COVID-19 (82%). Potential side effects and/or inadequate vaccine testing were cited as the most common concerns by unvaccinated HCP. A significant proportion of HCP reported increased stress and responsibilities at work due to COVID-19. The majority were vaccinated. Improving workplace policies related to mental health resources and sick leave, maintaining access to PPE, and ensuring clear communication of PPE requirements may improve workplace stress and burnout.

Accelerated Longitudinal Weight Gain Among Infants With In Utero COVID-19 Exposure.

Since the initial outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a novel population of children with in utero exposure to maternal infection has emerged whose health outcomes are largely unknown. To compare longitudinal growth trajectories among infants with vs without in utero COVID-19 exposure. We conducted a longitudinal cohort study leveraging a prospectively enrolled perinatal biorepository among 149 infants with in utero COVID-19 exposure and 127 unexposed controls. Weight, length, and body mass index (BMI) were abstracted from health records at 0, 2, 6, and 12 months and standardized using World Health Organization growth charts. Analyses were adjusted for maternal age, ethnicity, parity, insurance, and BMI as well as infant sex, birthdate, and breastfeeding. Infants with in utero COVID-19 exposure vs controls exhibited differential trajectories of weight and BMI, but not length, z-score over the first year of life (study group × time interaction, P < .0001 for weight and BMI). Infants born to mothers with prenatal COVID-19 had lower BMI z-score at birth (effect size: -0.35, 95% CI -0.66 to -0.03) and greater gain in BMI z-score from birth to 12 months (effect size: 0.53, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.99). Birth weight z-score mediated a significant proportion of the relationship between COVID-19 exposure and postnatal growth (estimate ± SE, 32 ± 14%, P = .02). Infants with in utero COVID-19 exposure exhibited lower birth weight and accelerated weight gain in the first year of life, which may be harbingers of downstream cardiometabolic pathology. Further studies are needed to delineate cardiometabolic sequelae among this emerging global population.