RESUMEN
High coronavirus incidence has prompted the Netherlands to implement a second lockdown. To elucidate the epidemic's development preceding this second wave, we analysed weekly test positivity in public test locations by population subgroup between 1 June and 17 October 2020. Hospitality and public transport workers, driving instructors, hairdressers and aestheticians had higher test positivity compared with a reference group of individuals without a close-contact occupation. Workers in childcare, education and healthcare showed lower test positivity.
Asunto(s)
Distribución por Edad , Prueba de COVID-19 , COVID-19/epidemiología , Control de Enfermedades Transmisibles/métodos , Ocupaciones/estadística & datos numéricos , Pandemias , SARS-CoV-2/aislamiento & purificación , Adolescente , Adulto , Anciano , COVID-19/diagnóstico , COVID-19/prevención & control , Niño , Preescolar , Trazado de Contacto , Femenino , Accesibilidad a los Servicios de Salud , Hospitalización/estadística & datos numéricos , Humanos , Incidencia , Lactante , Recién Nacido , Masculino , Tamizaje Masivo , Persona de Mediana Edad , Países Bajos/epidemiología , Exposición Profesional , Distanciamiento Físico , Cuarentena , Riesgo , Adulto JovenRESUMEN
Suboptimal laboratory diagnostics for Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) impedes its surveillance and control across Europe. We evaluated changes in local laboratory CDI diagnostics and changes in national diagnostic and typing capacity for CDI during the European C. difficile Infection Surveillance Network (ECDIS-Net) project, through cross-sectional surveys in 33 European countries in 2011 and 2014. In 2011, 126 (61%) of a convenience sample of 206 laboratories in 31 countries completed a survey on local diagnostics. In 2014, 84 (67%) of these 126 laboratories in 26 countries completed a follow-up survey. Among laboratories that participated in both surveys, use of CDI diagnostics deemed 'optimal' or 'acceptable' increased from 19% to 46% and from 10% to 15%, respectively (p < 0.001). The survey of national capacity was completed by national coordinators of 31 and 32 countries in 2011 and 2014, respectively. Capacity for any C. difficile typing method increased from 22/31 countries in 2011 to 26/32 countries in 2014; for PCR ribotyping from 20/31 countries to 23/32 countries, and specifically for capillary PCR ribotyping from 7/31 countries to 16/32 countries. While our study indicates improved diagnostic capability and national capacity for capillary PCR ribotyping across European laboratories between 2011 and 2014, increased use of 'optimal' diagnostics should be promoted.
