Dietary habits, traveling and the living situation potentially influence the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection: results from healthcare workers participating in the RisCoin Study.

PURPOSE: To explore occupational and non-occupational risk and protective factors for the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in healthcare workers (HCWs). METHODS: Serum specimens and questionnaire data were obtained between October 7 and December 16, 2021 from COVID-19-vaccinated HCWs at a quaternary care hospital in Munich, Germany, and were analyzed in the RisCoin Study. RESULTS: Of 3,696 participants evaluated, 6.6% have had COVID-19 at least once. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified working in patient care occupations (7.3% had COVID-19, 95% CI 6.4-8.3, Pr = 0.0002), especially as nurses, to be a potential occupation-related COVID-19 risk factor. Non-occupational factors significantly associated with high rates of the disease were contacts to COVID-19 cases in the community (12.8% had COVID-19, 95% CI 10.3-15.8, Pr < 0.0001), being obese (9.9% had COVID-19, 95% CI 7.1-13.5, Pr = 0.0014), and frequent traveling abroad (9.4% had COVID-19, 95% CI 7.1-12.3, Pr = 0.0088). On the contrary, receiving the basic COVID-19 immunization early during the pandemic (5.9% had COVID-19, 95% CI 5.1-6.8, Pr < 0.0001), regular smoking (3.6% had COVID-19, 95% CI 2.1-6.0, Pr = 0.0088), living with the elderly (3.0% had COVID-19, 95% CI 1.0-8.0, Pr = 0.0475), and frequent consumption of ready-to-eat meals (2.6% had COVID-19, 95% CI 1.1-5.4, Pr = 0.0045) were non-occupational factors potentially protecting study participants against COVID-19. CONCLUSION: The newly discovered associations between the living situation, traveling as well as dietary habits and altered COVID-19 risk can potentially help refine containment measures and, furthermore, contribute to new mechanistic insights that may aid the protection of risk groups and vulnerable individuals.

Prolonged Jaundice in a Premature Breastfed Infant With Gilbert's Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Neonatal jaundice and prematurity pose significant barriers to breastfeeding in the first days of life. There is limited literature exploring the relationship between prolonged jaundice in breastfed infants and Gilbert's (Meulengraght) syndrome. This case study describes the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with Gilbert's syndrome in a late preterm breastfed infant born in Germany. MAIN ISSUE: In this case report, an infant born to a primipara woman presented at 3 weeks postpartum to an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. The initial assessment revealed a late preterm infant with inadequate weight gain and jaundice. The dyad received breastfeeding support and eventually achieved adequate weight gain; however, the infant's jaundice persisted. MANAGEMENT: The consulting midwife suggested that the persistent jaundice was "breastmilk jaundice" and recommended temporarily interrupting breastfeeding. Due to a suspected family history of Gilbert's Syndrome, the dyad was referred, instead, to a pediatric gastroenterologist. Pathologic liver disease was excluded, and genetic testing confirmed Gilbert's Syndrome. At 6 months of age, the dyad was successfully breastfeeding and beginning complementary feeding. CONCLUSION: Genetic testing for Gilbert's Syndrome should be considered for infants with prolonged jaundice and positive family history. Interruption or cessation of breastfeeding are not evidence-based recommendations, and current guidelines do not support these practices. Lactation professionals play a critical role in the management of breastfeeding for preterm infants with prolonged jaundice and should refer to specialists to rule out pathologic etiologies.

National survey of infant feeding bottles in Germany: Their characteristics and marketing claims.

Bottles and teats are ubiquitously used for feeding infants and young children. Yet there are limited empirical studies on the scope of infant feeding bottles, their attributes, or their marketing claims. We report the first comprehensive survey on infant feeding bottles and teats in Germany. We aimed to explore the extent of bottles and teats available in Germany, describe their physical attributes and analyze their marketing claims. A cross-sectional survey of German bottle and teat manufacturer websites was conducted between June and November 2022. Product attributes are presented with descriptive statistics and photographs. Marketing claims are summarized in a descriptive content analysis. We identified 41 brands encompassing 447 unique products (226 bottles, 221 teats). The majority of bottles were plastic (147, 65%) or glass (64, 28%), and the majority of teats were silicone (188, 85%). Most brands (38, 93%) promoted products using one or more inappropriate marketing claims, including equivalency to breastfeeding (29, 73%), idealization through technical or medical descriptions (23, 58%), claims on disease prevention (31, 78%), references to naturalness (29, 73%), infant autonomy (10, 25%), and endorsements from parents (10, 25%) or health professionals (11, 28%). The majority of bottles and teats available in Germany appear to be marketed inappropriately and hold the potential to undermine public health recommendations on infant and young child feeding. Therefore, we recommend Germany strengthens legislation on the marketing of bottles and teats in accordance with the International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes.