Open forum infectious diseases · 2025
Detection of Pneumococcal Carriage in Asymptomatic Healthcare Workers.
СтатьяНазвание и аннотация: Перевод пока не подготовлен
Обработка статьи · этапы, ошибки и управление
Загрузка состояния…
Ошибки и ограничения
История · было → стало
Состояние обновляется каждые 5 секунд, пока блок открыт. Процент показывается только там, где известен объём работы. Пауза останавливает продолжение этапа; текущий запрос к источнику может завершиться.
Waghela Pari, Davis Raechel, Campbell Melissa, Datta Rupak, Hislop Maikel S, Vega Noel J, Wurst Loren, Yolda-Carr Devyn, Couch Luke, Hernandez Michael, Grant Lindsay R, Alexander-Parrish Ronika, Arguedas Adriano, Gessner Bradford D, Martinello Richard A, Weinberger Daniel M, Wyllie Anne L
Аннотация
BACKGROUND: Healthcare workers are at increased risk of exposure to respiratory pathogens including Streptococcus pneumoniae (pneumococcus). While little asymptomatic carriage has been reported in young-to-middle-aged adults, this may be due to nonsensitive diagnostic methods. The aim of the current study was to investigate the rates of pneumococcal carriage in a large cohort of healthcare workers, using saliva as a respiratory specimen.
METHODS: We evaluated pneumococcal carriage in convenience samples of saliva, self-collected from asymptomatic healthcare workers (Connecticut, USA) who were testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from 30 March to 11 June 2020. DNA extracted from the culture-enriched saliva was later tested using quantitative polymerase chain reaction for piaB, lytA, and serotype. Saliva samples were considered positive for pneumococcus when the piaB cycle threshold value was <40.
RESULTS: Study participants were 22-74 years old (mean age, 38.5 years), 75% female, 75% white, and with occupations including registered nurses (48%), medical doctors (23%), and patient care assistants (5%). Overall, 138 of 1241 samples (11%) from 86 of 392 individuals (21%) tested piaB positive at some point during the 4-month study period, with 28 (33%) colonized individuals positive at multiple time points. Carriers reflected the overall study population. No significant demographic characteristics were associated with detection of pneumococcus. Colonized individuals primarily carried serotypes 19F (25.6%) and 3 (12.8%).
CONCLUSIONS: During a period of mandatory masking, we identified a cumulative pneumococcal carriage prevalence of 21% among healthcare workers. This study highlights that healthcare workers may act as unrecognized reservoirs of pneumococcus in the population. Despite long-standing pediatric immunization programs, vaccine-targeted serotypes continue to be prevalent among the adult population.
METHODS: We evaluated pneumococcal carriage in convenience samples of saliva, self-collected from asymptomatic healthcare workers (Connecticut, USA) who were testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) from 30 March to 11 June 2020. DNA extracted from the culture-enriched saliva was later tested using quantitative polymerase chain reaction for piaB, lytA, and serotype. Saliva samples were considered positive for pneumococcus when the piaB cycle threshold value was <40.
RESULTS: Study participants were 22-74 years old (mean age, 38.5 years), 75% female, 75% white, and with occupations including registered nurses (48%), medical doctors (23%), and patient care assistants (5%). Overall, 138 of 1241 samples (11%) from 86 of 392 individuals (21%) tested piaB positive at some point during the 4-month study period, with 28 (33%) colonized individuals positive at multiple time points. Carriers reflected the overall study population. No significant demographic characteristics were associated with detection of pneumococcus. Colonized individuals primarily carried serotypes 19F (25.6%) and 3 (12.8%).
CONCLUSIONS: During a period of mandatory masking, we identified a cumulative pneumococcal carriage prevalence of 21% among healthcare workers. This study highlights that healthcare workers may act as unrecognized reservoirs of pneumococcus in the population. Despite long-standing pediatric immunization programs, vaccine-targeted serotypes continue to be prevalent among the adult population.