Seroprevalence and factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among education workers after the first wave: the first cross-sectional study in Brazil.

BACKGROUND: The school community was heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, especially with the long time of school closures. This study aimed to analyze the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and possible factors associated with seropositivity for COVID-19 in teachers and other school staff, and to estimate the fraction of asymptomatic individuals by sex and age group. METHODS: We conducted a serological survey of SARS-CoV-2 infections. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Fortaleza, Brazil. Teachers and other staff members from pre-schools to universities of higher education to were investigated. RESULTS: A total of 1,901 professionals participated in the study, of which 1,021 were staff and 880 were teachers. The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was 8.0% (152/1901). In the seropositive group, 48.3% were asymptomatic. There was a predominance of women (68.4%); and, 47.1% of the participants were between 31 and 45 years old. There was an increase in prevalence with increasing age. An inverse relationship was found for education level: more professionals with less education tested positive for COVID-19. The presence of an infected person living in the same household was significantly associated with positive results for COVID-19 among the professionals. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study to report the seroprevalence of IgG against SARS-CoV-2 in Brazilian educational staff after the first wave of the disease. In this study, the seroprevalence was much lower than that in the general population. During school reopening, a small fraction of school workers showed serologically detectable signs of SARS-CoV-2 exposure.

Seroprevalence and levels of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies among medical students: possible associated factors in Northeastern Brazil / Soroprevalência e níveis de anticorpos anti-síndrome respiratória aguda grave coronavírus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) entre estudantes de medicina: possíveis fatores associados no Nordeste do Brasil

Objective: we evaluated the seroprevalence and levels of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibodies among medical students and the possible associated factors. Methods: a survey was conducted using the data collected in November 2020 and February 2022 in Fortaleza, Northeast Brazil. A questionnaire was administered, and blood and nasopharyngeal swab samples were collected. The Abbott test was used for the assessment of humoral response to the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) proteins. The total antibodies were detected using a SARS-CoV-2 antibody test (Wodfo). Swab samples were subjected to qualitative detection of viral RNA. Chi-square test and multinomial logistic regression analysis were performed using SPSS and GraphPad Prism. Results: the seroprevalence rate in 2020 was 6.22% (40/643), and no difference in prevalence was observed between the semesters (p=0.520). The seroconversion rate was 51.1%. The seropositivity rates were 48.9% for N antibodies and 100% for S antibodies. The antibody response to N protein was higher in 2022 (p<0.001). Loss of smell was the most prevalent positive symptom (p=0.032). The adherence rate to protection measures was >75%. Most students reported a decrease in family income (63.7%), an increase in anxiety (82.6%), and a negative impact on their mental health (85.7%) regardless of the seroconversion status. The worst indicators of mental health quality were observed in students who attended classes up to the eighth semester (p<0.001). Conclusion: students showed lower immune response than the general population, with excellent adherence to the preventive and control measures. Medical schools played an important role in the formation but not transmission.

Objetivo: avaliamos a soroprevalência e os níveis de anticorpos anti-síndrome respiratória aguda grave coronavírus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) entre estudantes de medicina e os possíveis fatores associados. Métodos: foi realizada uma pesquisa com dados coletados em novembro de 2020 e fevereiro de 2022 em Fortaleza, Nordeste do Brasil. Um questionário foi aplicado e amostras de sangue e swab nasofaríngeo foram coletadas. O teste de Abbott foi utilizado para avaliação da resposta humoral às proteínas spike (S) e nucleocapsídeo (N) do SARS-CoV-2. Os anticorpos totais foram detectados usando um teste de anticorpos SARS-CoV-2 (Wodfo). Amostras de swab foram submetidas à detecção qualitativa de RNA viral. O teste qui-quadrado e a análise de regressão logística multinomial foram realizados utilizando SPSS e GraphPad Prism. Resultados: a taxa de soroprevalência em 2020 foi de 6,22% (40/643), e não foi observada diferença de prevalência entre os semestres (p=0,520). A taxa de soroconversão foi de 51,1%. As taxas de soropositividade foram de 48,9% para anticorpos N e 100% para anticorpos S. A resposta de anticorpos à proteína N foi maior em 2022 (p<0,001). A perda do olfato foi o sintoma positivo mais prevalente (p=0,032). A taxa de adesão às medidas de proteção foi >75%. A maioria dos estudantes relatou diminuição da renda familiar (63,7%), aumento da ansiedade (82,6%) e impacto negativo na saúde mental (85,7%), independentemente do estado de soroconversão. Os piores indicadores de qualidade em saúde mental foram observados nos alunos que frequentavam aulas até o oitavo semestre (p<0,001). Conclusão: os estudantes apresentaram resposta imunológica menor que a da população em geral, com excelente adesão às medidas preventivas e de controle. As escolas médicas desempenharam um papel importante na formação, mas não na transmissão.

Seroprevalence and factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection among education workers after the first wave: the first cross-sectional study in Brazil

ABSTRACT Background: The school community was heavily impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, especially with the long time of school closures. This study aimed to analyze the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and possible factors associated with seropositivity for COVID-19 in teachers and other school staff, and to estimate the fraction of asymptomatic individuals by sex and age group. Methods: We conducted a serological survey of SARS-CoV-2 infections. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Fortaleza, Brazil. Teachers and other staff members from pre-schools to universities of higher education to were investigated. Results: A total of 1,901 professionals participated in the study, of which 1,021 were staff and 880 were teachers. The seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 was 8.0% (152/1901). In the seropositive group, 48.3% were asymptomatic. There was a predominance of women (68.4%); and, 47.1% of the participants were between 31 and 45 years old. There was an increase in prevalence with increasing age. An inverse relationship was found for education level: more professionals with less education tested positive for COVID-19. The presence of an infected person living in the same household was significantly associated with positive results for COVID-19 among the professionals. Conclusions: This is the first study to report the seroprevalence of IgG against SARS-CoV-2 in Brazilian educational staff after the first wave of the disease. In this study, the seroprevalence was much lower than that in the general population. During school reopening, a small fraction of school workers showed serologically detectable signs of SARS-CoV-2 exposure.

Prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis in women attended at a private laboratory / Prevalência de Trichomonas vaginalis em mulheres atendidas em um laboratório privado

Introduction: Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) are caused by viruses, fungi, bacteria, or other microorganisms, thus being a serious public health issue. Trichomonas vaginalis is the disease causative agent of trichomoniasis, a worldwide protozoan. The prevalence of trichomoniasis depends on some factors, including age, sexual activity, number of sexual partners, hygiene habits, among others. Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of Trichomonas vaginalis in gynecological cytology in a private laboratory in the city of Fortaleza, state of Ceará, Brazil. Methods: This is a retrospective, quantitative, and descriptive study carried out in a private laboratory in Fortaleza, state of Ceará. Data for the research, such as age, marital status, and symptoms, were collected from the patients' medical records as well as the prevalence of cases in liquid-based cytology (LBC) and conventional cytology (CC). Results: In 2019, 83 women were positive for trichomoniasis. The most prevalent age group was between 36 and 51 years old (41%), with an average of 39.9 years old. Regarding symptoms, 14 (16.8%) were asymptomatic and 41 (49.3%) had some symptom. Conclusion: The data obtained in this study describe the profile of women affected by Trichomonas vaginalis.

As infecções sexualmente transmissíveis são causadas por vírus, fungos, bactérias ou outros microrganismos, sendo assim um grave problema de saúde pública. O Trichomonas vaginalis, um protozoário presente em todo o mundo, é o agente etiológico causador da tricomoníase. A prevalência dessa doença depende de alguns fatores, incluindo idade, atividade sexual, números de parceiros sexuais, hábitos de higiene, entre outros. Objetivo: Avaliar a prevalência de Trichomonas vaginalis, em citologia ginecológica em um laboratório privado em Fortaleza, Ceará, Brasil. Métodos: Trata-se de estudo retrospectivo, quantitativo e descritivo realizado em laboratório privado em Fortaleza. Os dados para a pesquisa, como idade, estado civil, sintomas, foram retirados de prontuários das pacientes, assim como a prevalência de casos em citologia em meio líquido e CO. Resultados: No ano de 2019, 83 mulheres apresentaram positividade para tricomoníase. A faixa etária mais prevalente foi a de 36 a 51 anos (41%), ficando com a média de 39,9 anos. Em relação aos sintomas, 14 (16,8%), apresentaram-se assintomáticas e 41 (49,3%) apresentaram algum sintoma. Conclusão: Os dados obtidos neste estudo descrevem o perfil das mulheres acometidas pelo Trichomonas vaginalis.

Streptococcus pneumoniae sensibilidade a antimicrobianos e detecção de genes de resistência em isolados de crianças com pneumonia adquirida na comunidade em Fortaleza, Ceará

A infecção respiratória aguda (IRA) é uma síndrome clínica, em que cerca de 80% dasmortes são atribuídas à pneumonia, uma doença grave que atinge o trato respiratórioinferior. O agente etiológico comumente isolado na pneumonia adquirida nacomunidade (PAC) é o Streptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae). As doençaspneumocócicas começam com a colonização do S. pneumoniae na nasofaringe, podendoprogredir para doença invasiva. Nas últimas décadas, o aumento do número de cepas deS. pneumoniae resistentes a antibióticos β-lactâmicos e a macrolídeos tem dificultado otratamento das infecções pneumocócicas. Os objetivos desse estudo foram determinar àprevalência de portadores de S. pneumoniae em crianças com PAC, o perfil desensibilidade a antimicrobianos e distribuição dos sorotipos, em Fortaleza, Brasil. Ascepas de S. pneumoniae foram isoladas de aspirados de nasofaringe de crianças comPAC atendidas no Hospital Infantil Albert Sabin (HIAS). Para a determinação dasConcentrações Inibitórias Mínimas (CIM) foi utilizado o método de E-test para osseguintes antimicrobianos: penicilina, ceftriaxona, sulfametoxazol/trimetoprim,amoxicilina, clindamicina e eritromicina. A genotipagem das cepas de S. pneumoniaefoi realizada pela técnica de multiplex PCR. De 527 amostras de crianças com PAC,foram isolados S. pneumoniae em 30,17%...

Acute respiratory infection is a clinical syndrome in which about 80% of deathsattributed to pneumonia, which is a serious disease that affects the lower respiratorytract. The etiologic agent commonly isolated in community-acquired pneumonia isStreptococcus pneumoniae (S. pneumoniae). Pneumococcal disease begins withcolonization of S. pneumoniae in the nasopharynx, which may progress to invasivedisease markedly. In recent decades, the increasing number of strains of S. pneumoniaeresistant to -lactam antibiotics and macrolides has hampered the treatment ofpneumococcal infections. The objectives of this study were to determine: (1) theprevalence of carriers of S. pneumoniae in children with community-acquiredpneumonia; (2) the profile of the sensitivity of the causative agent and the antimicrobial;(3) the distribution of serotypes existing in Fortaleza. The strains of S. pneumoniae wereisolated from nasopharyngeal aspirates from children with community-acquiredpneumonia treated at Children's Hospital Albert Sabin public. Penicillin, ceftriaxone,sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim, amoxicillin, clindamycin and erythromycin: Todetermine the minimum inhibitory concentration method the E-test for the followingantimicrobials were used. Genotyping of the strains of S. pneumoniae was performed bymultiplex PCR. A total of 527 samples with carriers of community-acquired pneumoniain children were isolated 30.17% of strains of S...