Excess mortality in Europe coincides with peaks of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), November 2023 to February 2024.

Since the end of November 2023, the European Mortality Monitoring Network (EuroMOMO) has observed excess mortality in Europe. During weeks 48 2023-6 2024, preliminary results show a substantially increased rate of 95.3 (95% CI:  91.7-98.9) excess all-cause deaths per 100,000 person-years for all ages. This excess mortality is seen in adults aged 45 years and older, and coincides with widespread presence of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) observed in many European countries during the 2023/24 winter season.

The impact of HIV preexposure prophylaxis on bacterial sexually transmitted infection occurrence in MSM: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) initiation on bacterial sexually transmitted infection (STI) occurrence (overall; chlamydia; gonorrhea; syphilis), in MSM. DESIGN: Systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: Systematic searches were performed in PubMed, Embase, and Scopus without language restrictions until 1 February 2023. We sought studies reporting data for the estimation of incidence rate ratios (IRR), prevalence ratios or cumulative incidence ratios (the latter in equal time periods before and after PrEP initiation) regarding bacterial STI occurrence. Separate analyses were performed overall for any STI, syphilis, chlamydia and gonorrhea (overall; rectal; urethral; pharyngeal for the two latter conditions); ratios greater than unity denoted increase in STI occurrence after PrEP initiation. RESULTS: Twenty-three eligible studies with 11 776 participants (age range: 18-71 years) with a median follow-up of 12 months were included. Overall, PrEP initiation was associated with a significant increase in the occurrence of any STI (pooled effect size: 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.04-1.26), any gonorrhea (pooled effect size: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.02-1.34), any chlamydia (pooled effect size: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.09-1.58) and rectal chlamydia (pooled effect size: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.05-1.64), whereas a borderline increase was found in urethral chlamydia (pooled effect size: 1.25, 95% CI: 0.99-1.60, P  = 0.064). Changes in pharyngeal chlamydia and site-specific gonorrhea occurrence did not reach statistical significance. Syphilis showed virtually no change after PrEP initiation (pooled effect size: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.72-1.37). CONCLUSION: These results highlight the need for more comprehensive, accessible STI testing to tackle bacterial STI infections in PrEP users.

Effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccine mandates in raising vaccination rates among the elderly and general population in Europe: Controlled interrupted time series analysis.

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, three European countries (Austria, Greece, Italy) announced and/or implemented mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for high-risk groups in the general population. Besides the ethical justification for this policy, it is important to assess and quantify the effectiveness of the mandate in raising vaccination rates. METHODS: Controlled interrupted time series analysis of first-dose vaccination rates in the targeted age groups (Greece: ≥60 years; Italy: ≥50 years) relative to a control group (Greece: 50-59 years; Italy: 25-49 years) between week 35/2021 and week 50/2022. For Austria an uncontrolled analysis was performed, as the vaccine mandate targeted all adults ≥18 years. RESULTS: Announcement of mandatory vaccination substantially increased vaccination rates in the targeted age groups compared to control in both Greece (RR = 4.36, 95 % CI: 3.57-5.32) and Italy (RR = 2.90, 95 % CI: 2.37-3.56), an effect which persisted throughout the study period. There were 176,428 (95 % CI: 164,097-187,226) mandate-attributable first-dose vaccinations in Greece and 316,192 (95 % CI: 282,467-346,678) in Italy, most of which occurred before the mandate came into effect. In Austria no discernible increase in vaccination rates was observed after the announcement of mandatory vaccination. At the end of the study period, 9.5 % of ≥60 year-olds in Greece, 4.9 % of ≥50 year-olds in Italy and 13.8 % of ≥18 year-olds in Austria remained unvaccinated. CONCLUSIONS: In Greece and Italy - though not in Austria - simple announcement of a vaccine mandate rapidly increased COVID-19 vaccination rates in the targeted age groups, without fully closing the vaccination gap. Mandatory vaccination appears to effectively target complacency but not vaccine hesitancy, and its public health benefits need to be weighted against possible detrimental effects on confidence and trust.

Burnout and motivation to study medicine among students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aim: To investigate medical students' burnout and motivation levels in each of the six years of their studies during the COVID-19 pandemic and identify independent predictors of burnout and motivation. Methods: An anonymous cross-sectional survey was sent to the students of all six years within our school. Burnout was measured with the adapted Oldenburg Burnout Inventory questionnaire (OLBI-S) and motivation with the updated Strength of Motivation for Medical School (SMMS-R) questionnaire. Univariate analysis was performed with the Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman's correlation, while multivariable analysis with linear regression models. Results: A total of 333 medical students (52% of student body) responded. Higher burnout levels correlated with lower motivation to study medicine (rho = -0.30, p < 0.001). Burnout levels differed between the six years of medical studies, peaking in years two and four whereas being the lowest in year one (p = 0.01). Motivation levels differed significantly as well, peaking in years one and four whereas being the lowest in years five and six (p = 0.012). In the multivariable linear regression models, being a female (b = 2.22, p = 0.016), studying in the fourth year vs. first year (b = 2.54, p = 0.049), having a perceived beginner/intermediate vs. advanced/expert technology level (b = 2.05, p = 0.032) and a perceived poor school support system (b = 6.35, p < 0.001) were independently associated with higher burnout levels. Furthermore, studying in the fifth year vs. first year (b = -5.17, p = 0.019) and a perceived poor school support system (b = -3.09, p = 0.01) were independently associated with a reduced motivation to study medicine. Conclusion: Our study highlighted potential areas for intervention to decrease the rate of burnout and low motivation among medical students. However, further research is needed to unravel the full effect of the pandemic on medical students.

Lack of association between vaccination rates and excess mortality in Cyprus during the COVID-19 pandemic.

BACKGROUND: It has been claimed that COVID-19 vaccination is associated with excess mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic, a claim that contributes to vaccine hesitancy. We examined whether all-cause mortality has actually increased in Cyprus during the first two pandemic years, and whether any increases are associated with vaccination rates. METHODS: We calculated weekly excess mortality for Cyprus between January 2020 and June 2022, overall and by age group, using both a Distributed Lag Nonlinear Model (DLNM) adjusted for mean daily temperature, and the EuroMOMO algorithm. Excess deaths were regressed on the weekly number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths and on weekly first-dose vaccinations, also using a DLNM to explore the lag-response dimension. RESULTS: 552 excess deaths were observed in Cyprus during the study period (95% CI: 508-597) as opposed to 1306 confirmed COVID-19 deaths. No association between excess deaths and vaccination rates was found overall and for any age group except 18-49 years, among whom 1.09 excess deaths (95% CI: 0.27-1.91) per 10,000 vaccinations were estimated during the first 8 weeks post-vaccination. However, detailed cause-of-death examination identified just two such deaths potentially linked to vaccination, therefore this association is spurious and attributable to random error. CONCLUSIONS: Excess mortality was moderately increased in Cyprus during the COVID-19 pandemic, primarily as a result of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 deaths. No relationship was found between vaccination rates and all-cause mortality, demonstrating the excellent safety profile of COVID-19 vaccines.

The impact of seasonal influenza vaccination uptake on COVID-19 vaccination attitudes in a rural area in Greece.

INTRODUCTION: Promoting vaccination for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially for high-risk groups such as the elderly and persons with comorbidities, is important for reducing the incidence of severe disease and death. METHODS: Retrospective cross-sectional study of factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination, including previous influenza vaccination, among all persons who received medical services in a rural area in Crete, Greece, between October 2020-May 2021. RESULTS: Among 3129 participants, receipt of influenza vaccination in 2020-21 was strongly associated with COVID-19 vaccination, as was influenza vaccination in 2019-20, albeit to a lesser extent. In addition, persons older than 59 years (with exception of those 90 + years old) and those who lived closer to the hospital/health center, were more likely to vaccinate for COVID-19. Persons younger than 40 years of age, females, persons with mental illness or neurologic disease, were also less likely to vaccinate for COVID-19 (all p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 vaccination was more likely among those who were vaccinated for influenza before and during the pandemic. Access to healthcare services and specific comorbidities, were important influencers for vaccination, underlying the importance of tailored interventions to enforce vaccination in high-risk groups.

Extended Right-Sided Colon Resection Does Not Reduce the Risk of Colon Cancer Local-Regional Recurrence: Nationwide Population-Based Study From Danish Colorectal Cancer Group Database.

BACKGROUND: It is controversial whether extensive resection of right-sided colon cancer confers oncological benefits. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate short- and long-term outcomes of extended surgical removal of the mesocolon compared to the conventional approach. DESIGN: This was a retrospective population-based study. SETTING: Study is based on a prospectively maintained Danish Colorectal Cancer Group database. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome measures included local-regional recurrence in patients who underwent curative resection for right-sided colon cancer and 30-day postoperative complications. Distant metastasis, unplanned intraoperative adverse events, and 30- and 90-day postoperative mortality were also investigated. Patients who had palliative or compromised resection, emergency surgery, or neoadjuvant chemotherapy were excluded. RESULTS: Of the 12,855 patients with resection of right-sided colon cancer retrieved, 1151 underwent extended right hemicolectomy. Patients who had extended right hemicolectomy were younger males with lower ASA scores, were operated on by colorectal surgeons using a laparoscopic approach, and had a significantly higher number of harvested lymph nodes. The rate of local-regional recurrence was 1.1% (136/12,855), with no difference between conventional right hemicolectomy and extended right hemicolectomy (OR, 1.7; 95% CI, 0.63-2.18). Postoperative medical complications were significantly higher in extended right hemicolectomy even after adjusting for age, comorbidity, access to the abdomen, and other covariates (OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.01-1.58). No significant difference was noticed between conventional right hemicolectomy and extended right hemicolectomy in the rates of distant metastasis, unplanned intraoperative adverse events, and mortality. LIMITATIONS: Because it is a register-based study, underreporting cannot be excluded. Extended right hemicolectomy, as defined in this study, does not reflect the extent of lymphatic dissection performed during the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: This large population-based register study showed no difference in local-regional recurrence of right-sided colon cancer between conventional and extended right hemicolectomy with mesenteric resection and ligation of the middle colic vessels. Extended resection was associated with higher rates of postoperative complications. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/B907 . LA RESECCIN AMPLIADA DEL COLON DERECHO NO REDUCE EL RIESGO DE RECURRENCIA LOCALREGIONAL DEL CNCER DE COLON ESTUDIO POBLACIONAL A NIVEL NACIONAL DE LA BASE DE DATOS DEL GRUPO DANS DE CNCER COLORRECTAL: ANTECEDENTES:Es aun un tema controversial si la resección ampliada del cáncer de colon del lado derecho confiere beneficios oncológicos.OBJETIVOS:El objetivo de este estudio fue examinar los resultados a corto y largo plazo de la resección quirúrgica ampliada del mesocolon en comparación con el enfoque convencional.DISEÑO:Este fue un estudio poblacional de tipo retrospectivo basado en una base de datos del Grupo Danés de Cáncer Colorrectal mantenida de manera prospectiva.AJUSTES:La medida de resultado primaria fue la recurrencia local-regional en pacientes sometidos a resección curativa por cáncer de colon del lado derecho y las medidas de resultado secundarias fueron las complicaciones posoperatorias a los 30 días. También fueron investigadas las metástasis a distancia, los eventos adversos intraoperatorios no planificados y la mortalidad posoperatoria a los 30 y 90 días. Se excluyeron los pacientes sometidos a resección paliativa o comprometida, cirugía de urgencia y quimioterapia neoadyuvante.RESULTADOS:De los 12.855 pacientes recuperados y sometidos a resección de cáncer de colon del lado derecho, 1151 fueron sometidos a hemicolectomía derecha ampliada. Los pacientes sometidos a hemicolectomía derecha ampliada fueron varones más jóvenes con puntuaciones ASA más bajas, operados por cirujanos colorrectales, utilizando la vía laparoscópica, y tuvieron un número significativamente mayor de ganglios linfáticos extraídos. La tasa de recidiva local-regional fue del 1,1% (136 / 12.855) sin diferencia entre la hemicolectomía derecha convencional y la hemicolectomía derecha ampliada (OR 1,7 IC 95% 0,63-2,18). Las complicaciones médicas post operatorias fueron significativamente mayores en la hemicolectomía derecha ampliada incluso después del ajuste por edad, comorbilidad, acceso al abdomen y otras covariables (OR 1,26; IC 95% 1,01-1,58). No se observaron diferencias significativas entre la hemicolectomía derecha convencional y la hemicolectomía derecha ampliada con respecto a las tasas de metástasis a distancia, eventos adversos intraoperatorios no planificados y mortalidad.LIMITACIONES:Es un estudio basado en registros, por lo tanto, no se puede excluir la sub notificación. La hemicolectomía derecha ampliada como se define en este estudio no refleja la extensión de la disección linfática realizada durante la cirugía.CONCLUSIONES:Este gran estudio basado en el registro poblacional no mostró diferencias en la recurrencia local-regional del cáncer de colon del lado derecho entre la hemicolectomía derecha convencional y ampliada con resección mesentérica y ligadura de los vasos cólicos medios. La resección ampliada se asoció con tasas más altas de complicaciones posoperatorias. Consulte Video Resumen en http://links.lww.com/DCR/B907 . (Traducción-Dr. Osvaldo Gauto ).

Comparative effectiveness and durability of COVID-19 vaccination against death and severe disease in an ongoing nationwide mass vaccination campaign.

As national coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) mass vaccination campaigns are rolled out, monitoring real-world Vaccine Effectiveness (VE) and its durability is essential. We aimed to estimate COVID-19 VE against severe disease and death in the Greek population, for all vaccines currently in use. Nationwide active surveillance and vaccination registry data during January-December 2021 were used to estimate VE via quasi-Poisson regression, adjusted for age and calendar time. Interaction terms were included to assess VE by age group, against the "delta" severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 variant and waning of VE over time. Two doses of BNT162b2, mRNA-1273, or ChAdOx1 nCov-19 vaccines offered very high (>90%) VE against both intubation and death across all age groups, similar against both "delta" and previous variants, with one-dose Ad26.COV2.S slightly lower. VE waned over time but remained >80% at 6 months, and three doses increased VE again to near 100%. Vaccination prevented an estimated 19 691 COVID-19 deaths (95% confidence interval: 18 890-20 788) over the study period. All approved vaccines offer strong and also durable protection against COVID-19 severe disease and death. Every effort should be made to vaccinate the population with at least two doses, to reduce the mortality and morbidity impact of the pandemic.

Comparative efficacy and safety of vaccines to prevent seasonal influenza: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.

Background: Influenza is one of the most common respiratory viral infections worldwide. Numerous vaccines are used to prevent influenza. Their selection should be informed by the best available evidence. We aimed to estimate the comparative efficacy and safety of seasonal influenza vaccines in children, adults and the elderly. Methods: We conducted a systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA). We searched the Cochrane Library Central Register of Controlled Trials, MEDLINE and EMBASE databases, and websites of regulatory agencies, through December 15th, 2020. We included placebo- or no vaccination-controlled, and head-to-head randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Pairs of reviewers independently screened the studies, abstracted the data, and appraised the risk of bias in accordance to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions. The primary outcome was laboratory-confirmed influenza. We also synthesized data for hospitalization, mortality, influenza-like illness (ILI), pneumonia or lower respiratory-tract disease, systemic and local adverse events (AEs). We estimated summary risk ratios (RR) using pairwise and NMA with random effects. This study is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42018091895. Findings: We identified 13,439 citations. A total of 231 RCTs were included after screening: 11 studies did not provide useful data for the analysis; 220 RCTs [100,677 children (< 18 years) and 329,127 adults (18-60 years) and elderly (≥ 61 years)] were included in the NMA. In adults and the elderly, all vaccines, except the trivalent inactivated intradermal vaccine (3-IIV ID), were more effective than placebo in reducing the risk of laboratory-confirmed influenza, with a RR between 0.33 (95% credible interval [CrI] 0.21-0.55) for trivalent inactivated high-dose (3-IIV HD) and 0.56 (95% CrI 0.41-0.74) for trivalent live-attenuated vaccine (3-LAIV). In adults and the elderly, compared with trivalent inactivated vaccine (3-IIV), no significant differences were found for any, except 3-LAIV, which was less efficacious [RR 1.41 (95% CrI 1.04-1.88)]. In children, compared with placebo, RR ranged between 0.13 (95% CrI 0.03-0.51) for trivalent inactivated vaccine adjuvanted with MF59/AS03 and 0.55 (95% CrI 0.36-0.83) for trivalent inactivated vaccine. Compared with 3-IIV, 3-LAIV and trivalent inactivated adjuvanted with MF59/AS03 were more efficacious [RR 0.52 (95% CrI 0.32-0.82) and RR 0.23 (95% CrI 0.06-0.87)] in reducing laboratory-confirmed influenza. With regard to safety, higher systemic AEs rates after vaccination with 3-IIV, 3-IIV HD, 3-IIV ID, 3-IIV MF59/AS03-adj, quadrivalent inactivated (4-IIV), quadrivalent adjuvanted (4-IIV MF59/AS03-adj), quadrivalent recombinant (4-RIV), 3-LAIV or quadrivalent live attenuated (4-LAIV) vaccines were noted in adults and the elderly [RR 1.5 (95% CrI 1.18-1.89) to 1.15 (95% CrI 1.06-1.23)] compared with placebo. In children, the systemic AEs rate after vaccination was not significantly higher than placebo. Interpretation: All vaccines cumulatively achieved major reductions in the incidence of laboratory-confirmed influenza in children, adults, and the elderly. While the live-attenuated was more efficacious than the inactivated vaccine in children, many vaccine types can be used in adults and the elderly. Funding: The directorate general of welfare, Lombardy region.

ESCMID COVID-19 guidelines: diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2.

SCOPE: The objective of these guidelines is to identify the most appropriate diagnostic test and/or diagnostic approach for SARS-CoV-2. The recommendations are intended to provide guidance to clinicians, clinical microbiologists, other health care personnel, and decision makers. METHODS: An ESCMID COVID-19 guidelines task force was established by the ESCMID Executive Committee. A small group was established, half appointed by the chair and the remaining selected with an open call. Each panel met virtually once a week. For all decisions, a simple majority vote was used. A list of clinical questions using the PICO (population, intervention, comparison, outcome) format was developed at the beginning of the process. For each PICO, two panel members performed a literature search focusing on systematic reviews, with a third panellist involved in case of inconsistent results. Quality of evidence assessment was based on the GRADE-ADOLOPMENT (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation - adoption, adaptation, and de novo development of recommendations) approach. RECOMMENDATIONS: A total of 43 PICO questions were selected that involve the following types of populations: (a) patients with signs and symptoms of COVID-19; (b) travellers, healthcare workers, and other individuals at risk for exposure to SARS-CoV-2; (c) asymptomatic individuals, and (d) close contacts of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. The type of diagnostic test (commercial rapid nucleic acid amplification tests and rapid antigen detection), biomaterial, time since onset of symptoms/contact with an infectious case, age, disease severity, and risk of developing severe disease are also taken into consideration.

ESCMID COVID-19 guidelines: diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2 [Pré-print]

The present guideline has the objective of identifying the most appropriate diagnostic test and/or diagnostic/screening approach for1) patients with signs and symptoms of COVID-19; 2) travelers from areas with low and high COVID-19 prevalence, healthcare workers, and other individuals at risk for exposure to SARS-CoV-2; 3) asymptomatic individuals (including general population) and 4) those with close contact with a person infected with SARS-CoV-2; and 5) symptomatic individuals following re-infection and/or vaccination. However, evidence for re-infection and post-vaccination testing approach was scarce when the literature search for the index guidelines was performed. Hence, associated PICOs could not be addressed. Additional considerations include the type of biomaterial, time since onset of symptoms/contact with infectious case, age, disease severity, and risk of developing severe disease. The document is intended to provide guidance to clinicians, clinical microbiologists, other health care personnel, and decision makers.

ECCO Guidelines on Therapeutics in Ulcerative Colitis: Surgical Treatment.

This is the second of a series of two articles reporting the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation [ECCO] evidence-based consensus on the management of adult patients with ulcerative colitis [UC]. The first article is focused on medical management, and the present article addresses medical treatment of acute severe ulcerative colitis [ASUC] and surgical management of medically refractory UC patients, including preoperative optimisation, surgical strategies, and technical issues. The article provides advice for a variety of common clinical and surgical conditions. Together, the articles represent an update of the evidence-based recommendations of the ECCO for UC.

SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance data can predict hospitalizations and ICU admissions.

We measured SARS-CoV-2 RNA load in raw wastewater in Attica, Greece, by RT-qPCR for the environmental surveillance of COVID-19 for 6 months. The lag between RNA load and pandemic indicators (COVID-19 hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions) was calculated using a grid search. Our results showed that RNA load in raw wastewater is a leading indicator of positive COVID-19 cases, new hospitalization and admission into ICUs by 5, 8 and 9 days, respectively. Modelling techniques based on distributed/fixed lag modelling, linear regression and artificial neural networks were utilized to build relationships between SARS-CoV-2 RNA load in wastewater and pandemic health indicators. SARS-CoV-2 mutation analysis in wastewater during the third pandemic wave revealed that the alpha-variant was dominant. Our results demonstrate that clinical and environmental surveillance data can be combined to create robust models to study the on-going COVID-19 infection dynamics and provide an early warning for increased hospital admissions.

Total patient load, regional disparities and in-hospital mortality of intubated COVID-19 patients in Greece, from September 2020 to May 2021.

AIMS: While healthcare services have been expanding capacity during the COVID-19 pandemic, quality of care under increasing patient loads has received less attention. We examined in-hospital mortality of intubated COVID-19 patients in Greece, in relation to total intubated patient load, intensive care unit (ICU) availability and hospital region. METHODS: Anonymized surveillance data were analyzed from all intubated COVID-19 patients in Greece between 1 September 2020 and 6 May 2021. Poisson regression was used to estimate the hazard of dying as a function of fixed and time-varying covariates. RESULTS: Mortality was significantly increased above 400 patients, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.25 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.03-1.51), rising progressively up to 1.57 (95% CI: 1.22-2.02) for 800+ patients. Hospitalization outside an ICU or away from the capital region of Attica were also independently associated with significantly increased mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that in-hospital mortality of severely ill COVID-19 patients is adversely affected by high patient load even without exceeding capacity, as well as by regional disparities. This highlights the need for more substantial strengthening of healthcare services, focusing on equity and quality of care besides just expanding capacity.

Undergraduate Medical Education During the Pandemic: How do Academic Staff Members in Greece and Cyprus Feel About it?

This study used a questionnaire to examine how academic staff members in Greece and Cyprus feel about the changes in undergraduate medical education during the COVID-19 pandemic. In general, e-learning was not considered an adequate way of teaching and was less enjoyable. Participants aged 31-40 years experienced more (P = .001), while staff in higher academic ranks less difficulty (P < .001) in adjustment. There was a small increase in workload, which was higher among respondents researching into COVID-19 (P = .001). During the pandemic, daily screen use >6 h was increased from 28.8% to 57.5%. The majority (74.2%) stated that scientific and educational training opportunities were not affected by the pandemic. In conclusion, the pandemic has induced important changes in undergraduate medical education. This new condition was considered adequate but not pleasant, with younger faculty members being more burdened.

Active case finding of pulmonary TB in a European refugee camp: lessons learnt from Oinofyta hosting site in Greece.

OBJECTIVES: To report on an active case finding (ACF) intervention that took place in the migrant camp of Oinofyta, Greece, upon suspicion of active TB transmission. METHODS: Upon diagnosis of 3 TB cases among camp residents, an ACF intervention among contacts was implemented. All camp residents were offered two-step screening, that is tuberculin skin testing (TST) followed by chest X-ray in case of positive TST (defined as ≥5 mm). RESULTS: 336 of 379 (89%) camp residents underwent TST testing, of whom 110 (33%) exhibited a positive skin reaction. The rate of positive TST results was particularly high in the elderly and significantly higher in adults than in children. Differences by sex or nationality were not observed. Of the 110 cases with positive TST, only 75 underwent chest X-ray, resulting in the detection of one pulmonary TB case in an adult woman. CONCLUSIONS: In the given intervention context, two-step ACF proved to be operationally cumbersome, with many residents lost to follow-up and a high Number Needed to Screen. Simpler ACF designs should be pilot-tested in similar settings in the future, and blanket screening of all camp residents should be reconsidered. Conclusions drawn by these exercises should pave the way for adopting a comprehensive, context-specific and evidence-based national strategy on TB in migrants.

The coexistence of asthma and COPD: risk factors, clinical history and lung function trajectories.

Patients with concomitant features of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have a heavy disease burden.Using data collected prospectively in the European Community Respiratory Health Survey, we compared the risk factors, clinical history and lung function trajectories from early adulthood to late sixties of middle-aged subjects with asthma+COPD (n=179), past (n=263) or current (n=808) asthma alone, COPD alone (n=111) or none of these (n=3477).Interview data and pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC) were obtained during three clinical examinations in 1991-1993, 1999-2002 and 2010-2013. Disease status was classified in 2010-2013, when the subjects were aged 40-68 years, according to the presence of fixed airflow obstruction (post-bronchodilator FEV1/FVC below the lower limit of normal), a lifetime history of asthma and cumulative exposure to tobacco or occupational inhalants. Previous lung function trajectories, clinical characteristics and risk factors of these phenotypes were estimated.Subjects with asthma+COPD reported maternal smoking (28.2%) and respiratory infections in childhood (19.1%) more frequently than subjects with COPD alone (20.9% and 14.0%, respectively). Subjects with asthma+COPD had an impairment of lung function at age 20 years that tracked over adulthood, and more than half of them had asthma onset in childhood. Subjects with COPD alone had the highest lifelong exposure to tobacco smoking and occupational inhalants, and they showed accelerated lung function decline during adult life.The coexistence between asthma and COPD seems to have its origins earlier in life compared to COPD alone. These findings suggest that prevention of this severe condition, which is typical at older ages, should start in childhood.

Effects of Social Distancing Measures during the First Epidemic Wave of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Infection, Greece.

Greece imposed a nationwide lockdown in March 2020 to mitigate transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 during the first epidemic wave. We conducted a survey on age-specific social contact patterns to assess effects of physical distancing measures and used a susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered model to simulate the epidemic. Because multiple distancing measures were implemented simultaneously, we assessed their overall effects and the contribution of each measure. Before measures were implemented, the estimated basic reproduction number (R0) was 2.38 (95% CI 2.01-2.80). During lockdown, daily contacts decreased by 86.9% and R0 decreased by 81.0% (95% credible interval [CrI] 71.8%-86.0%); each distancing measure decreased R0 by 10%-24%. By April 26, the attack rate in Greece was 0.12% (95% CrI 0.06%-0.26%), one of the lowest in Europe, and the infection fatality ratio was 1.12% (95% CrI 0.55%-2.31%). Multiple social distancing measures contained the first epidemic wave in Greece.