Efficacy of facemasks in preventing transmission of COVID-19 in non-healthcare settings: A scoping review.

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, an abundance of literature relating to the efficacy of face masks on reducing transmission of COVID-19 in non-healthcare settings emerged. Aim/objective: The aim of this scoping review was to allow the identification of: types of evidence conducted in this area; knowledge gaps and common concepts relating to mask efficacy in non-healthcare settings. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase and the Irish Management Institute bibliographic database on December 15th, 2021. All types of face masks were included. Of 722 records, 16 were included after full text screening. Findings/results: Themes from an adapted model of Howard et al. framework were used to group results and identify common concepts. The grouped thematic results were then applied to the socio-ecological model. This illustrated the multifactorial elements determining the efficacy of masks themselves while also illustrating how other factors such as individual behaviours, social interactions, settings and national policy can influence the degree of the protective effect. Discussion: The findings from this scoping review indicate that an abundance of experimental literature is available indicating that masks are effective at preventing COVID-19 transmission but their degree of efficacy is impacted by external factors. This review highlights that the quality of the evidence available is low.

The effectiveness of interventions to improve the seasonal influenza vaccination uptake among nurses: A systematic review.

Background: Seasonal influenza is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Despite annual recommendations, influenza vaccination uptake rates are disproportionately lower among nurses compared to other health care professionals, especially when compared to physicians. Nurses have an additional risk of exposure to influenza infection due to the nature of their work. Aim: To determine the effectiveness of interventions in increasing seasonal influenza vaccination uptake among nurses. Methods: Evidence on the effectiveness of interventions to improve seasonal influenza vaccination uptake among nurses was systematically reviewed. A comprehensive search of six electronic databases and grey literature was undertaken. A minimum of two reviewers completed study selection, data extraction and risk of bias assessment independently. Results: One hundred and thirty-four studies were identified of which one cluster randomised trial met the inclusion criteria. The results of the included study found the implementation of an intervention with multiple components increased nurses' seasonal influenza vaccination rates during a single influenza season in geriatric healthcare settings in France. As the evidence in this review was very limited, it was not possible to make recommendations regarding which interventions were effective at increasing the seasonal influenza vaccination rate for nurses. Conclusion: This systematic review highlights a lack of high-quality studies that assessed interventions to improve the seasonal influenza vaccination of nurses. In view of the likelihood of influenza and the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic occurring together, it is imperative to have evidence on effective interventions for the nursing workforce and for policy decision makers.

Mandatory vaccination for seasonal influenza: what are nurses' views?

BACKGROUND: Preventing seasonal influenza is a public health priority but, although the benefits of vaccinating healthcare workers (HCWs) are emphasised, seasonal influenza vaccine uptake rates remain low. Voluntary vaccination policies have been less successful in achieving high vaccine uptake when compared to mandatory policies and the persistently low vaccine uptake among HCWs has fuelled debate on whether mandatory vaccination programmes should be implemented in the interest of patient safety. AIM: This study explored nurses' views on mandatory vaccination policy for seasonal influenza. METHODS: A self-selected sample (n=35) of qualified nurses working in two large hospital sites in Ireland participated in five focus groups. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke's framework. FINDINGS: Two themes were identified: (1) mixed views on mandatory vaccination and (2) leave nurses to make their own choice on vaccination. CONCLUSION: This study provides an understanding of nurses' views regarding mandatory vaccination policy for seasonal influenza and highlights that individual choice and autonomy are crucial for vaccine acceptance.

Barriers and facilitators to seasonal influenza vaccination uptake among nurses: A mixed methods study.

AIM: To identify the barriers and facilitators to seasonal influenza vaccination uptake among nurses. BACKGROUND: Seasonal influenza causes significant mortality and morbidity among older people and high-risk groups. Vaccinating nurses against influenza is an essential public health measure to reduce the burden of disease. Yet despite annual recommendations, nurses' influenza vaccine uptake rates remain low. DESIGN: An explanatory sequential mixed methods study design. DATA SOURCES: Qualified nurses attending mandatory training in two large acute hospitals in Ireland. METHODS: A paper-based questionnaire assessing nurses' knowledge, risk perception, health beliefs and influenza vaccination practices was distributed to a convenience sample of qualified nurses (N = 462) between September 2017 - February 2018. A self-selected sample of 35 nurses who completed the questionnaire participated in five focus groups to explore in depth the barriers and facilitating factors associated with their vaccination practices between September 2018 - October 2018. The questionnaire data were analysed statistically and thematic analysis was applied to the qualitative data. The quantitative and qualitative findings were integrated using the Pillar Integration Process. RESULTS: Seven themes emerged: (a) the influence of nurses' knowledge on vaccine uptake; (b) dissemination of information; (c) vaccine fears and concerns; (d) protection, risk and vulnerability: self and others; (e) influencers; (f) accessibility; and (g) organizational pressure. CONCLUSION: Achieving high vaccine uptake rates among nurses through voluntary vaccination programmes remains a challenge. Multi-faceted influenza campaigns based on the HBM should be prioritized to address dissemination of evidence-based knowledge, accessibility, and external cues to action. IMPACT: Low influenza vaccine uptake among nurses compromises patient safety and contributes to a significant burden on health services. This study identified factors associated with vaccine practices among nurses and will inform the development of specific tailored interventions for nurses.

Sexual transmission of Hepatitis C Virus infection in a heterosexual population: A systematic review.

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important cause of liver disease worldwide. Identification of risk factors can guide screening and prevention. Sexual transmission in monogamous heterosexual relationships is rare but it is uncertain which sexual behaviours are linked to HCV transmission. This review aimed to determine risk factors for sexual HCV transmission in heterosexuals in low HCV prevalence countries (PROSPERO registration CRD42016051099). Methods: We searched Medline, Embase, Science Citation Index-Expanded, Social Sciences Citation index, Conference proceedings (Web of Science), CINAHL, Scopus, LILACS, PubMed, and grey literature (04/11/2016). We included studies published in/after the year 2000 that examined sexual risk factors for HCV infection, other than interspousal transmission, in heterosexual adults (≥18 years). We excluded prisoners, people who inject drugs (PWIDs), people co-infected with HIV or from high prevalence countries. Two reviewers completed study selection, data extraction, risk of bias and quality of evidence assessment (GRADE) independently. Meta-analysis could not be conducted. Results: Eight studies were included, examining seven factors (multiple sex partners, receiving/providing sex commercially, PWID partner, and unprotected vaginal, oral, anal sex). None were significant, except the evidence for the factor having a PWID partner was conflicting. Conclusions: We are uncertain about the results due to the very low quality of evidence (GRADE). A more liberal approach to review inclusion criteria might be useful in further identifying factors associated with an increased risk of sexual transmission of HCV infection in a heterosexual population. However, caution should be applied to avoid the impact of confounders on the findings.

Disease outcomes in a cohort of women in Ireland infected by hepatitis C-contaminated anti-D immunoglobulin during 1970s.

BACKGROUND & AIM: In the mid-1990s, a group of Rh negative women was diagnosed with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1b infection, following administration of contaminated anti-D immunoglobulin in 1977-79. We aimed to describe their disease history and estimate the effect of selected host and treatment factors on disease progression. METHODS: We conducted a cohort study on the women infected with HCV. Information was collected from records at seven HCV treatment centres on demographics, treatment and health outcomes up to the 31st December 2013. We calculated cumulative incidence, case fatality, and sub hazard ratios (SHR) for disease progression using competing risks regression. RESULTS: Six hundred and eighty-two patients were included in the study. Among the chronically infected patients (n=374), 35% completed interferon-based antiviral treatment; 42% of whom had a sustained virological response. At the end of 2013, 19%, 1.9%, and 4.9% of chronically infected patients had developed cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver-related death, respectively, compared with 10%, 0.8%, and 2.4% at the end of 2008. At the end of 2013, 321 (86%) of the chronically infected patients remained alive, 247 (77%) of whom were still chronically infected. Factors associated with increased cirrhosis rates included high alcohol intake (aSHR=4.9 [2.5-9.5]) and diabetes mellitus (aSHR=5.0 [2.9-8.8]). CONCLUSIONS: Development of liver-related outcomes accelerated with time, with the risk of cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver-related death doubling in the last five years of follow-up, particularly in women with high alcohol consumption and diabetes mellitus. We recommend that patients with chronic HCV infection be advised of the additive harmful effect of alcohol, and that data be collected on this cohort after a further five years to analyse the effect of subsequent antiviral treatment during this rapidly evolving period in HCV treatment history. LAY SUMMARY: In the mid-1990s, a group of women were diagnosed with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection following receipt of contaminated anti-D immunoglobulin between 1977 and 1979 in Ireland. Seventy-two (19%) developed cirrhosis and 18 had died from liver-related causes (5%) after 36years of infection. Disease progression accelerated in the last five years of follow-up, particularly in women with diabetes mellitus and high alcohol consumption. We recommend that patients with chronic HCV infection be advised of the additive harmful effect of high alcohol consumption.

Tuberculosis contact investigations associated with air travel in Ireland, September 2011 to November 2014.

The risk of communicable disease transmission during air travel is of public health concern and has received much attention over the years. We retrospectively reviewed information from nine flights (≥ 8 hours) associated with infectious tuberculosis (TB) cases in Ireland between September 2011 and November 2014 to investigate whether possible transmission had occurred. Twenty-four flights notified in Ireland associated with sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB cases with a history of air travel were reviewed. Nine were suitable for inclusion and analysed. Six cases of infectious TB travelled on nine flights. A total of 232 passengers were identified for contact tracing; 85.3% (n = 198) had sufficient information available for follow-up. In total, 12.1% (n = 24) were reported as screened for TB. The results revealed no active TB cases among passengers and 16.7% (n = 4) were diagnosed with latent TB infection (LTBI) all of whom had other risk factors. Despite the limited sample size, we found no evidence of M. tuberculosis transmission from infectious passengers. This study identified challenges in obtaining complete timely airline manifests, leading to inadequate passenger information for follow-up. Receipt of TB screening results from international colleagues was also problematic. The challenge of interpreting the tuberculin skin test results in determining recent vs earlier infection was encountered.

The use of complementary and alternative medicine in an Irish cohort of people with an iatrogenic hepatitis C infection: results from a health and lifestyle survey.

INTRODUCTION: A cohort of people with iatrogenic HCV infection, current or resolved, in Ireland have access to primary and secondary health care services, including specified complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) services, free of charge. OBJECTIVES: Information about their pattern of CAM usage and its association with various demographic and lifestyle factors, and current HCV status, was sought as part of a health and lifestyle survey, in order to provide information for health service planning. DESIGN AND METHODS: The survey was carried out by self-administered postal questionnaire. The level of CAM usage was compared to an age- and sex-matched sample of the general population. RESULTS: The response was 48% (720/1485). Compared to the general population, the HCV population was significantly more likely to have attended a CAM practitioner (50.1% vs 23.9%, OR 3.2; 95% CI 2.7-3.9). Within the HCV population, multivariate analysis showed that females (OR 3.1; 95% CI 1.9-4.9), those who reported fibromyalgia (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.8-3.9) and those who reported anxiety (OR 1.4; 95% CI 1.0-2.0) were significantly more likely to have used CAM, and smokers significantly less likely (OR 0.6; 95% CI 0.4-0.8). CAM attendance did not vary by current HCV status. Reflexology, acupuncture and massage were the most commonly used forms of CAM. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that CAM services are used by a high proportion of people with iatrogenic chronic HCV. A more holistic approach to health care, using a biopsychosocial model framework, may better meet the physical and psychological health needs of this group.

Epidemiology, clinical characteristics and resource implications of pandemic (H1N1) 2009 in intensive care units in Ireland.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence, clinical characteristics and outcomes of critically ill patients in Ireland with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection, and to provide a dynamic assessment of the burden of such cases on Irish intensive care units. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Multicentre prospective observational study of all adult patients admitted to any of the 30 ICUs in the Republic of Ireland between 15 July 2009 and 30 May 2010. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient demographics, clinical characteristics and ICU mortality; ICU admissions, bed-days, bed occupancy rates and distribution. RESULTS: Seventy-seven adult patients with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection were admitted to 27 of 30 Irish ICUs. The median age was 43 years (IQR, 30-56 years); 67 patients (88%) were aged under 65; 39 (51%) were male. Sixty-two patients (82%) had comorbid conditions, including obesity (36%), respiratory disease (34%) and malignancy or immunosuppression (20%). Eight (11%) were pregnant, and 27 (36%) were smokers. Sixty-seven patients were mechanically ventilated, 24 (32%) required renal replacement therapy, 39 (51%) received vasopressors and four (5%) received extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Of 14 patients (18%) who died in the ICU, two had no pre-existing comorbidities. The ICU admission rate of patients with pandemic (H1N1) 2009 infection was 22.5/million population. A total of 1882 ICU bed-days (557.5 bed-days/million adult population) were consumed, equating to a 3.9% bed occupancy rate, with a peak of 14.0% in October 2009. Median length of stay was 12 days (IQR, 7-34 days). CONCLUSION: The 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic was a significant burden on Irish ICUs, predominantly affecting the tertiary centres. The demographics and clinical characteristics were similar to those described in the southern hemisphere, suggesting such data may inform future resource planning for similar threats.