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Prof. Maria Chironna
University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy

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0 Molecular Epidemiology
0 Public Health
0 Viral Hepatitis
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vaccine
Public Health
Epidemiology
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vaccine effectiveness
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HIV and AIDS
molecular epidemiology of healthcare-associated infections
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Journal article
Published: 12 August 2021 in Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease
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The SARS-CoV-2 P.1 variant of concern (VOC) was first identified in Brazil and is now spreading in European countries. It is characterized by the E484K mutation in the receptor-binding domain, which could contribute to the evasion from neutralizing antibodies. In Italy, this variant was first identified in January 2021. Here, we report an autochthonous outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 P.1 variant infections in southern Italy in subjects who had not travelled to endemic areas or outside the Apulia region. The outbreak involved seven subjects, three of whom had received a COVID-19 vaccine (one had received two doses and two had received one dose). Four patients had a mild clinical presentation. Laboratory investigations of nasopharyngeal swabs revealed that all strains were S-gene target failure-negative and molecular tests revealed they were the P.1 variant. Whole-genome sequencing confirmed that five subjects were infected with closely related strains classified as the P.1 lineage. The circulation of VOCs highlights the importance of strictly monitoring the spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants through genomic surveillance and of investigating local outbreaks. Furthermore, public health measures including social distancing, screening, and quarantine for travelers are key tools to slow down the viral transmission and to contain and mitigate the impact of VOC diffusion, and rapid scaling-up of vaccination is crucial to avoid a possible new epidemic wave.

ACS Style

Daniela Loconsole; Anna Sallustio; Francesca Centrone; Daniele Casulli; Maurizio Mario Ferrara; Antonio Sanguedolce; Marisa Accogli; Maria Chironna. An Autochthonous Outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 P.1 Variant of Concern in Southern Italy, April 2021. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease 2021, 6, 151 .

AMA Style

Daniela Loconsole, Anna Sallustio, Francesca Centrone, Daniele Casulli, Maurizio Mario Ferrara, Antonio Sanguedolce, Marisa Accogli, Maria Chironna. An Autochthonous Outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 P.1 Variant of Concern in Southern Italy, April 2021. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease. 2021; 6 (3):151.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniela Loconsole; Anna Sallustio; Francesca Centrone; Daniele Casulli; Maurizio Mario Ferrara; Antonio Sanguedolce; Marisa Accogli; Maria Chironna. 2021. "An Autochthonous Outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 P.1 Variant of Concern in Southern Italy, April 2021." Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease 6, no. 3: 151.

Journal article
Published: 21 July 2021 in Vaccines
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Background: Solid-organ transplant (SOT) recipients are at a high risk of severe COVID-19, and are priority for vaccination. Here, we describe three cases of severe COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 lineage in vaccinated SOT recipients. Methods: Three SOT patients were hospitalized in the Policlinico Hospital of Bari (southern Italy) and underwent nasopharyngeal swabs for molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 genes and spike protein mutations by real-time PCR. One sample was subjected to whole-genome sequencing. Results: One patient was a heart transplant recipient and two were kidney transplant recipients. All were hospitalized with severe COVID-19 between March and May 2021. Two patients were fully vaccinated and one had received only one dose of the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine. All the patients showed a high viral load at diagnosis, and molecular typing revealed the presence of B.1.1.7 lineage SARS-CoV-2. In all three cases, prolonged viral shedding was reported. Conclusions: The three cases pose concern about the role of the B.1.1.7 lineage in severe COVID-19 and about the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination in immunocompromised patients. Protecting immunocompromised patients from COVID-19 is a challenge. SOT recipients show a suboptimal response to standard vaccination, and thus, an additive booster or a combined vaccination strategy with mRNA, protein/subunit, and vector-based vaccines may be necessary. This population should continue to practice strict COVID-19 precautions post-vaccination, until new strategies for protection are available.

ACS Style

Daniela Loconsole; Emma Stea; Anna Sallustio; Giulia Fontò; Virginia Pronzo; Simona Simone; Francesca Centrone; Marisa Accogli; Loreto Gesualdo; Maria Chironna. Severe COVID-19 by SARS-CoV-2 Lineage B.1.1.7 in Vaccinated Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients: New Preventive Strategies Needed to Protect Immunocompromised Patients. Vaccines 2021, 9, 806 .

AMA Style

Daniela Loconsole, Emma Stea, Anna Sallustio, Giulia Fontò, Virginia Pronzo, Simona Simone, Francesca Centrone, Marisa Accogli, Loreto Gesualdo, Maria Chironna. Severe COVID-19 by SARS-CoV-2 Lineage B.1.1.7 in Vaccinated Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients: New Preventive Strategies Needed to Protect Immunocompromised Patients. Vaccines. 2021; 9 (8):806.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniela Loconsole; Emma Stea; Anna Sallustio; Giulia Fontò; Virginia Pronzo; Simona Simone; Francesca Centrone; Marisa Accogli; Loreto Gesualdo; Maria Chironna. 2021. "Severe COVID-19 by SARS-CoV-2 Lineage B.1.1.7 in Vaccinated Solid-Organ Transplant Recipients: New Preventive Strategies Needed to Protect Immunocompromised Patients." Vaccines 9, no. 8: 806.

Journal article
Published: 25 May 2021 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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In 2013, in a bid to combat Vaccine Hesitancy (VH) and provide information on vaccines by communicating with the general public and the health community (e.g., healthcare workers and public health operators), the Italian Society of Hygiene and Preventive Medicine (S.It.I.) published the national website “VaccinarSì”. The project was subsequently extended to ten Italian Regions. This led to the creation of the VaccinarSì Network, whose websites are publicly owned. The aim of this work was to present the framework of the websites of the VaccinarSì Network and to analyse user behaviour in the pre-COVID-19-era (dating from each website’s publication until 31 January 2020) and in the COVID-19-era (from 1 February 2020 to 31 January 2021). Some metrics such as the number of visits to the site (sessions, number of users and average session duration), user behaviour (pages viewed, bounce rate and organic search) and the session acquisition path (direct traffic, referrals and social traffic) were searched, extrapolated and processed with Google Analytics. Qualitative and normally distributed quantitative variables were summarised with their absolute (relative) frequencies and means. Statistical differences between the means of the two periods were evaluated through paired t-test. A two-tailed p-value less than 0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. When the total values recorded over the period were compared, an overall increase in metrics was observed—the number of individual users, visits and individual pageviews rose in a statistically significant way. Our study aimed to highlight how combining disciplines such as health education and digital communication via Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) represents the best strategy to support citizens. This approach gives them the tools to become independent and responsible players that are capable of voluntarily and consciously choosing to adhere to vaccination programs. The VaccinarSì Network’s goal for the future is to reach an even wider audience. By building each user’s critical knowledge, this network enables users to be active components of a wider, more empowered community.

ACS Style

Antonella Arghittu; Marco Dettori; Emma Dempsey; Giovanna Deiana; Claudio Angelini; Angela Bechini; Caterina Bertoni; Sara Boccalini; Paolo Bonanni; Sandro Cinquetti; Fabrizio Chiesi; Maria Chironna; Claudio Costantino; Antonio Ferro; Daniel Fiacchini; Giancarlo Icardi; Andrea Poscia; Francesca Russo; Andrea Siddu; Antonietta Spadea; Laura Sticchi; Maria Triassi; Francesco Vitale; Paolo Castiglia. Health Communication in COVID-19 Era: Experiences from the Italian VaccinarSì Network Websites. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 5642 .

AMA Style

Antonella Arghittu, Marco Dettori, Emma Dempsey, Giovanna Deiana, Claudio Angelini, Angela Bechini, Caterina Bertoni, Sara Boccalini, Paolo Bonanni, Sandro Cinquetti, Fabrizio Chiesi, Maria Chironna, Claudio Costantino, Antonio Ferro, Daniel Fiacchini, Giancarlo Icardi, Andrea Poscia, Francesca Russo, Andrea Siddu, Antonietta Spadea, Laura Sticchi, Maria Triassi, Francesco Vitale, Paolo Castiglia. Health Communication in COVID-19 Era: Experiences from the Italian VaccinarSì Network Websites. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (11):5642.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Antonella Arghittu; Marco Dettori; Emma Dempsey; Giovanna Deiana; Claudio Angelini; Angela Bechini; Caterina Bertoni; Sara Boccalini; Paolo Bonanni; Sandro Cinquetti; Fabrizio Chiesi; Maria Chironna; Claudio Costantino; Antonio Ferro; Daniel Fiacchini; Giancarlo Icardi; Andrea Poscia; Francesca Russo; Andrea Siddu; Antonietta Spadea; Laura Sticchi; Maria Triassi; Francesco Vitale; Paolo Castiglia. 2021. "Health Communication in COVID-19 Era: Experiences from the Italian VaccinarSì Network Websites." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 11: 5642.

Journal article
Published: 19 May 2021 in Wellcome Open Research
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Late in 2020, two genetically-distinct clusters of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with mutations of biological concern were reported, one in the United Kingdom and one in South Africa. Using a combination of data from routine surveillance, genomic sequencing and international travel we track the international dispersal of lineages B.1.1.7 and B.1.351 (variant 501Y-V2). We account for potential biases in genomic surveillance efforts by including passenger volumes from location of where the lineage was first reported, London and South Africa respectively. Using the software tool grinch (global report investigating novel coronavirus haplotypes), we track the international spread of lineages of concern with automated daily reports, Further, we have built a custom tracking website (cov-lineages.org/global_report.html) which hosts this daily report and will continue to include novel SARS-CoV-2 lineages of concern as they are detected.

ACS Style

Áine O'Toole; Verity Hill; Oliver G. Pybus; Alexander Watts; Issac I. Bogoch; Kamran Khan; Jane P. Messina; Houriiyah Tegally; Richard R. Lessells; Jennifer Giandhari; Sureshnee Pillay; Kefentse Arnold Tumedi; Gape Nyepetsi; Malebogo Kebabonye; Maitshwarelo Matsheka; Madisa Mine; Sima Tokajian; Hamad Hassan; Tamara Salloum; Georgi Merhi; Jad Koweyes; Jemma L. Geoghegan; Joep de Ligt; Xiaoyun Ren; Matthew Storey; Nikki E. Freed; Chitra Pattabiraman; Pramada Prasad; Anita S. Desai; Ravi Vasanthapuram; Thomas F. Schulz; Lars Steinbrück; Tanja Stadler; Antonio Parisi; Angelica Bianco; Darío García de Viedma; Sergio Buenestado-Serrano; Vítor Borges; Joana Isidro; Sílvia Duarte; João Paulo Gomes; Neta S. Zuckerman; Michal Mandelboim; Orna Mor; Torsten Seemann; Alicia Arnott; Jenny Draper; Mailie Gall; William Rawlinson; Ira Deveson; Sanmarié Schlebusch; Jamie McMahon; Lex Leong; Chuan Kok Lim; Maria Chironna; Daniela Loconsole; Antonin Bal; Laurence Josset; Edward Holmes; Kirsten St. George; Erica Lasek-Nesselquist; Reina S. Sikkema; Bas Oude Munnink; Marion Koopmans; Mia Brytting; V. Sudha Rani; S. Pavani; Teemu Smura; Albert Heim; Satu Kurkela; Massab Umair; Muhammad Salman; Barbara Bartolini; Martina Rueca; Christian Drosten; Thorsten Wolff; Olin Silander; Dirk Eggink; Chantal Reusken; Harry Vennema; Aekyung Park; Christine Carrington; Nikita Sahadeo; Michael Carr; Gabo Gonzalez; Tulio de Oliveira; Nuno Faria; Andrew Rambaut; Moritz U. G. Kraemer. Tracking the international spread of SARS-CoV-2 lineages B.1.1.7 and B.1.351/501Y-V2. Wellcome Open Research 2021, 6, 121 .

AMA Style

Áine O'Toole, Verity Hill, Oliver G. Pybus, Alexander Watts, Issac I. Bogoch, Kamran Khan, Jane P. Messina, Houriiyah Tegally, Richard R. Lessells, Jennifer Giandhari, Sureshnee Pillay, Kefentse Arnold Tumedi, Gape Nyepetsi, Malebogo Kebabonye, Maitshwarelo Matsheka, Madisa Mine, Sima Tokajian, Hamad Hassan, Tamara Salloum, Georgi Merhi, Jad Koweyes, Jemma L. Geoghegan, Joep de Ligt, Xiaoyun Ren, Matthew Storey, Nikki E. Freed, Chitra Pattabiraman, Pramada Prasad, Anita S. Desai, Ravi Vasanthapuram, Thomas F. Schulz, Lars Steinbrück, Tanja Stadler, Antonio Parisi, Angelica Bianco, Darío García de Viedma, Sergio Buenestado-Serrano, Vítor Borges, Joana Isidro, Sílvia Duarte, João Paulo Gomes, Neta S. Zuckerman, Michal Mandelboim, Orna Mor, Torsten Seemann, Alicia Arnott, Jenny Draper, Mailie Gall, William Rawlinson, Ira Deveson, Sanmarié Schlebusch, Jamie McMahon, Lex Leong, Chuan Kok Lim, Maria Chironna, Daniela Loconsole, Antonin Bal, Laurence Josset, Edward Holmes, Kirsten St. George, Erica Lasek-Nesselquist, Reina S. Sikkema, Bas Oude Munnink, Marion Koopmans, Mia Brytting, V. Sudha Rani, S. Pavani, Teemu Smura, Albert Heim, Satu Kurkela, Massab Umair, Muhammad Salman, Barbara Bartolini, Martina Rueca, Christian Drosten, Thorsten Wolff, Olin Silander, Dirk Eggink, Chantal Reusken, Harry Vennema, Aekyung Park, Christine Carrington, Nikita Sahadeo, Michael Carr, Gabo Gonzalez, Tulio de Oliveira, Nuno Faria, Andrew Rambaut, Moritz U. G. Kraemer. Tracking the international spread of SARS-CoV-2 lineages B.1.1.7 and B.1.351/501Y-V2. Wellcome Open Research. 2021; 6 ():121.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Áine O'Toole; Verity Hill; Oliver G. Pybus; Alexander Watts; Issac I. Bogoch; Kamran Khan; Jane P. Messina; Houriiyah Tegally; Richard R. Lessells; Jennifer Giandhari; Sureshnee Pillay; Kefentse Arnold Tumedi; Gape Nyepetsi; Malebogo Kebabonye; Maitshwarelo Matsheka; Madisa Mine; Sima Tokajian; Hamad Hassan; Tamara Salloum; Georgi Merhi; Jad Koweyes; Jemma L. Geoghegan; Joep de Ligt; Xiaoyun Ren; Matthew Storey; Nikki E. Freed; Chitra Pattabiraman; Pramada Prasad; Anita S. Desai; Ravi Vasanthapuram; Thomas F. Schulz; Lars Steinbrück; Tanja Stadler; Antonio Parisi; Angelica Bianco; Darío García de Viedma; Sergio Buenestado-Serrano; Vítor Borges; Joana Isidro; Sílvia Duarte; João Paulo Gomes; Neta S. Zuckerman; Michal Mandelboim; Orna Mor; Torsten Seemann; Alicia Arnott; Jenny Draper; Mailie Gall; William Rawlinson; Ira Deveson; Sanmarié Schlebusch; Jamie McMahon; Lex Leong; Chuan Kok Lim; Maria Chironna; Daniela Loconsole; Antonin Bal; Laurence Josset; Edward Holmes; Kirsten St. George; Erica Lasek-Nesselquist; Reina S. Sikkema; Bas Oude Munnink; Marion Koopmans; Mia Brytting; V. Sudha Rani; S. Pavani; Teemu Smura; Albert Heim; Satu Kurkela; Massab Umair; Muhammad Salman; Barbara Bartolini; Martina Rueca; Christian Drosten; Thorsten Wolff; Olin Silander; Dirk Eggink; Chantal Reusken; Harry Vennema; Aekyung Park; Christine Carrington; Nikita Sahadeo; Michael Carr; Gabo Gonzalez; Tulio de Oliveira; Nuno Faria; Andrew Rambaut; Moritz U. G. Kraemer. 2021. "Tracking the international spread of SARS-CoV-2 lineages B.1.1.7 and B.1.351/501Y-V2." Wellcome Open Research 6, no. : 121.

Journal article
Published: 12 May 2021 in Viruses
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This study describes a case of SARS-CoV-2 reinfection confirmed by whole-genome sequencing in a healthy physician who had been working in a COVID-19 hospital in Italy since the beginning of the pandemic. Nasopharyngeal swabs were obtained from the patient at each presentation as part of routine surveillance. Nucleic acid amplification testing was performed on the two samples to confirm SARS-CoV-2 infection, and serological tests were used to detect SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies. Comparative genome analysis with whole-genome sequencing was performed on nasopharyngeal swabs collected during the two episodes of COVID-19. The first COVID-19 episode was in March 2020, and the second was in January 2021. Both SARS-CoV-2 infections presented with mild symptoms, and seroconversion for SARS-CoV-2 IgG was documented. Genomic analysis showed that the viral genome from the first infection belonged to the lineage B.1.1.74, while that from the second infection to the lineage B.1.177. Epidemiological, clinical, serological, and genomic analyses confirmed that the second episode of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the healthcare worker met the qualifications for “best evidence” for reinfection. Further studies are urgently needed to assess the frequency of such a worrisome occurrence, particularly in the light of the recent diffusion of SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern.

ACS Style

Daniela Loconsole; Anna Sallustio; Marisa Accogli; Francesca Centrone; Daniele Casulli; Antonino Madaro; Ersilia Tedeschi; Antonio Parisi; Maria Chironna. Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection in a Healthy Healthcare Worker in Italy Confirmed by Whole-Genome Sequencing. Viruses 2021, 13, 899 .

AMA Style

Daniela Loconsole, Anna Sallustio, Marisa Accogli, Francesca Centrone, Daniele Casulli, Antonino Madaro, Ersilia Tedeschi, Antonio Parisi, Maria Chironna. Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection in a Healthy Healthcare Worker in Italy Confirmed by Whole-Genome Sequencing. Viruses. 2021; 13 (5):899.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniela Loconsole; Anna Sallustio; Marisa Accogli; Francesca Centrone; Daniele Casulli; Antonino Madaro; Ersilia Tedeschi; Antonio Parisi; Maria Chironna. 2021. "Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection in a Healthy Healthcare Worker in Italy Confirmed by Whole-Genome Sequencing." Viruses 13, no. 5: 899.

Original research article
Published: 11 May 2021 in Frontiers in Pediatrics
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Background: In December 2019, a novel coronavirus named SARS-CoV-2 started circulating in China and this led to a major epidemic in Northern Italy between February and May 2020. Young children (aged <5 years) seem to be less affected by this coronavirus disease (COVID-19) compared to adults, although there is very little information on the circulation of this new virus among children in Italy. We retrospectively tested nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 in samples collected in young children between November, 2019 and March, 2020 in the context of the RSV ComNet study. Methods: Two networks of primary care pediatricians in Lazio (Central Italy) and Puglia (Southern Italy) collected nasopharyngeal swabs from children, aged <5 years, presenting with symptoms for an acute respiratory infection (ARI). The RSV ComNet study is a multicenter study implemented to estimate the burden of RSV in young children (aged <5 years) in the community. Swabs were sent to a central reference laboratory and tested for 14 respiratory viruses through RT-PCR. All collected samples were retrospectively tested for SARS-CoV-2 using RT-PCR (Istituto Superiore di Sanità protocol). Results: A total of 293 children with ARI were identified in the two participating networks. The highest number of cases were recruited in weeks 51/2019 and 3/2020. The majority of patients (57%) came from the Lazio region. All of the 293 samples tested negative for SARS-Cov2. Rhinovirus was the most frequently detected virus (44%), followed by RSV (41%) and influenza viruses (14%). Conclusions: Our study shows that in Lazio (a region of intermediate SARS-COV-2 incidence) and Puglia (a region of low incidence), the SARS-Cov2 virus did not circulate in a sample of ARI pediatric cases consulting primary care pediatricians between November 2019 and March 2020.

ACS Style

Caterina Rizzo; Daniela Loconsole; Elisabetta Pandolfi; Marta Luisa Ciofi Degli Atti; Jojanneke van Summeren; John Paget; Luisa Russo; Ilaria Campagna; Ileana Croci; Francesco Gesualdo; Carlo Concato; Giulia Linardos; Veronica Bartolucci; Sara Ciampini; Andrea Onetti Muda; Massimiliano Raponi; Maria Chironna. Sars-Cov2 Not Detected in a Pediatric Population With Acute Respiratory Infection in Primary Care in Central and Southern Italy From November 2019 to Early March 2020. Frontiers in Pediatrics 2021, 9, 620598 .

AMA Style

Caterina Rizzo, Daniela Loconsole, Elisabetta Pandolfi, Marta Luisa Ciofi Degli Atti, Jojanneke van Summeren, John Paget, Luisa Russo, Ilaria Campagna, Ileana Croci, Francesco Gesualdo, Carlo Concato, Giulia Linardos, Veronica Bartolucci, Sara Ciampini, Andrea Onetti Muda, Massimiliano Raponi, Maria Chironna. Sars-Cov2 Not Detected in a Pediatric Population With Acute Respiratory Infection in Primary Care in Central and Southern Italy From November 2019 to Early March 2020. Frontiers in Pediatrics. 2021; 9 ():620598.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Caterina Rizzo; Daniela Loconsole; Elisabetta Pandolfi; Marta Luisa Ciofi Degli Atti; Jojanneke van Summeren; John Paget; Luisa Russo; Ilaria Campagna; Ileana Croci; Francesco Gesualdo; Carlo Concato; Giulia Linardos; Veronica Bartolucci; Sara Ciampini; Andrea Onetti Muda; Massimiliano Raponi; Maria Chironna. 2021. "Sars-Cov2 Not Detected in a Pediatric Population With Acute Respiratory Infection in Primary Care in Central and Southern Italy From November 2019 to Early March 2020." Frontiers in Pediatrics 9, no. : 620598.

Research note
Published: 09 May 2021 in Clinical Microbiology and Infection
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Objectives In December 2020, Italy began a national immunization campaign using the BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccine, prioritizing healthcare workers (HCWs). Immune serum from vaccinated subjects seems to (largely) retain titres of neutralizing antibodies, even against SARS-CoV-2 VOC 202012/01-lineage B.1.1.7. Here, we describe an outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 lineage B.1.1.7 infection in three HCWs in a hospital setting; two of the HCWs were fully vaccinated (i.e., had received two doses). Methods Two physicians and one nurse working on the same shift on February 20, 2021, were involved in the outbreak. Real-time PCR, antigen tests, and serological tests for the IgG anti-spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 were performed, along with whole-genome sequencing (WGS). Results SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed in all three HCWs; all presented with mild symptoms of COVID-19. The two physicians were fully vaccinated with BNT162b2 vaccine, with the second dose administered 1 month before symptom onset. Both had high titres of IgG anti-spike antibodies at the time of diagnosis. WGS confirmed that all virus strains were VOC 202012/01-lineage B.1.1.7, suggesting a common source of exposure. Epidemiological investigation revealed that the suspected source was a SARS-CoV-2-positive patient who required endotracheal intubation due to severe COVID-19. All procedures were carried out using a full suite of personal protective equipment (PPE). Conclusions This mini-outbreak highlights some important issues about the efficacy of vaccines against transmission of SARS-CoV-2 variants, the high risk of exposure among HCWs, and the need for optimized implementation of PPE in hospitals. The wide circulation of VOC 202012/01 in Europe and Italy highlights the need to improve surveillance and genetic sequencing.

ACS Style

Daniela Loconsole; Anna Sallustio; Marisa Accogli; Angela Leaci; Antonio Sanguedolce; Antonio Parisi; Maria Chironna. Investigation of an outbreak of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 VOC 202012/01-lineage B.1.1.7 infection in healthcare workers, Italy. Clinical Microbiology and Infection 2021, 27, 1174.e1 -1174.e4.

AMA Style

Daniela Loconsole, Anna Sallustio, Marisa Accogli, Angela Leaci, Antonio Sanguedolce, Antonio Parisi, Maria Chironna. Investigation of an outbreak of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 VOC 202012/01-lineage B.1.1.7 infection in healthcare workers, Italy. Clinical Microbiology and Infection. 2021; 27 (8):1174.e1-1174.e4.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniela Loconsole; Anna Sallustio; Marisa Accogli; Angela Leaci; Antonio Sanguedolce; Antonio Parisi; Maria Chironna. 2021. "Investigation of an outbreak of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 VOC 202012/01-lineage B.1.1.7 infection in healthcare workers, Italy." Clinical Microbiology and Infection 27, no. 8: 1174.e1-1174.e4.

Original article
Published: 08 May 2021 in Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology
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Since the beginning of March 2020, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has been the cause of millions of deaths worldwide. The need to better define the pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 19 (Covid-19) as well as to provide the correct statistical records concerning deaths related to this virus, inevitably involves the role of forensic pathology and routine autopsy practice. Currently, some data on macroscopic and microscopic features in autopsies performed in suspected Covid-19 cases are reported in the literature. The persistence of SARS-CoV-2 in cadavers has not yet been elucidated and only a few reports have emphasized the importance of evaluating the Virus RNA in post-mortem tissues. In this preliminary study, we observed that SARS-CoV-2 survives in multiple cadaver tissues many days after death despite some extreme conditions of post-mortem body preservation. The results of this on-going analysis could help improve the safety of working practices for pathologists as well as understanding the possible interaction between microbiological agents and the cadaver tissue’s supravital reactions.

ACS Style

Sara Sablone; Biagio Solarino; Davide Ferorelli; Marcello Benevento; Maria Chironna; Daniela Loconsole; Anna Sallustio; Alessandro Dell’Erba; Francesco Introna. Post-mortem persistence of SARS-CoV-2: a preliminary study. Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology 2021, 1 -8.

AMA Style

Sara Sablone, Biagio Solarino, Davide Ferorelli, Marcello Benevento, Maria Chironna, Daniela Loconsole, Anna Sallustio, Alessandro Dell’Erba, Francesco Introna. Post-mortem persistence of SARS-CoV-2: a preliminary study. Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology. 2021; ():1-8.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Sara Sablone; Biagio Solarino; Davide Ferorelli; Marcello Benevento; Maria Chironna; Daniela Loconsole; Anna Sallustio; Alessandro Dell’Erba; Francesco Introna. 2021. "Post-mortem persistence of SARS-CoV-2: a preliminary study." Forensic Science, Medicine, and Pathology , no. : 1-8.

Journal article
Published: 29 April 2021 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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Epidemiological and virological studies have revealed that SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) are emerging globally, including in Europe. The aim of this study was to evaluate the spread of B.1.1.7-lineage SARS-CoV-2 in southern Italy from December 2020–March 2021 through the detection of the S gene target failure (SGTF), which could be considered a robust proxy of VOC B.1.1.7. SGTF was assessed on 3075 samples from week 52/2020 to week 10/2021. A subset of positive samples identified in the Apulia region during the study period was subjected to whole-genome sequencing (WGS). A descriptive and statistical analysis of the demographic and clinical characteristics of cases according to SGTF status was performed. Overall, 20.2% of samples showed SGTF; 155 strains were confirmed as VOC 202012/01 by WGS. The proportion of SGTF-positive samples rapidly increased over time, reaching 69.2% in week 10/2021. SGTF-positive cases were more likely to be symptomatic and to result in hospitalization (p < 0.0001). Despite the implementation of large-scale non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs), such as the closure of schools and local lockdowns, a rapid spread of VOC 202012/01 was observed in southern Italy. Strengthened NPIs and rapid vaccine deployment, first among priority groups and then among the general population, are crucial both to contain the spread of VOC 202012/01 and to flatten the curve of the third wave.

ACS Style

Daniela Loconsole; Francesca Centrone; Caterina Morcavallo; Silvia Campanella; Anna Sallustio; Marisa Accogli; Francesca Fortunato; Antonio Parisi; Maria Chironna. Rapid Spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern 202012/01 in Southern Italy (December 2020–March 2021). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2021, 18, 4766 .

AMA Style

Daniela Loconsole, Francesca Centrone, Caterina Morcavallo, Silvia Campanella, Anna Sallustio, Marisa Accogli, Francesca Fortunato, Antonio Parisi, Maria Chironna. Rapid Spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern 202012/01 in Southern Italy (December 2020–March 2021). International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021; 18 (9):4766.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniela Loconsole; Francesca Centrone; Caterina Morcavallo; Silvia Campanella; Anna Sallustio; Marisa Accogli; Francesca Fortunato; Antonio Parisi; Maria Chironna. 2021. "Rapid Spread of the SARS-CoV-2 Variant of Concern 202012/01 in Southern Italy (December 2020–March 2021)." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18, no. 9: 4766.

English abstract
Published: 23 April 2021
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ACS Style

Maria Elena Tosti; Luigina Ferrigno; Annamaria Mele; Luisa Romanò; Daniel Fiacchini; Patrizia Bagnarelli; Carla Zotti; Maria Chironna; Rosa Prato; Maria Teresa Giordani; Marino Faccini; Anna Lamberti; Sabrina Senatore; Simonetta Crateri; Valeria Alfonsi; Gruppo di Collaborazione Seieva. [Epidemiology and surveillance of hepatitis E in Italy: data from the SEIEVA surveillance system 2007-2019]. 2021, 45, 46 -53.

AMA Style

Maria Elena Tosti, Luigina Ferrigno, Annamaria Mele, Luisa Romanò, Daniel Fiacchini, Patrizia Bagnarelli, Carla Zotti, Maria Chironna, Rosa Prato, Maria Teresa Giordani, Marino Faccini, Anna Lamberti, Sabrina Senatore, Simonetta Crateri, Valeria Alfonsi, Gruppo di Collaborazione Seieva. [Epidemiology and surveillance of hepatitis E in Italy: data from the SEIEVA surveillance system 2007-2019]. . 2021; 45 (1-2):46-53.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Maria Elena Tosti; Luigina Ferrigno; Annamaria Mele; Luisa Romanò; Daniel Fiacchini; Patrizia Bagnarelli; Carla Zotti; Maria Chironna; Rosa Prato; Maria Teresa Giordani; Marino Faccini; Anna Lamberti; Sabrina Senatore; Simonetta Crateri; Valeria Alfonsi; Gruppo di Collaborazione Seieva. 2021. "[Epidemiology and surveillance of hepatitis E in Italy: data from the SEIEVA surveillance system 2007-2019]." 45, no. 1-2: 46-53.

Journal article
Published: 04 March 2021 in Pediatric Reports
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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic now represents a major threat to public health. Health care workers (HCW) are exposed to biological risk. Little is currently known about the risk of HCW operating in pediatric wards for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim is to assess the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCW in a third-level children’s hospital in Southern Italy. An observational cohort study of all asymptomatic HCW (physician, technicians, nurses, and logistic and support operators) was conducted. HCW were screened, on a voluntary basis, for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR on nasopharyngeal swab performed during the first wave of COVID-19. The study was then repeated, with the same modalities, at a 7-month interval, during the “second wave” of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the initial screening between 7 and 24 April 2020, 525 HCW were tested. None of them tested positive. At the repeated screening, conducted between 9 and 20 November 2020, 627 HCW were tested, including 61 additional ones resulting from COVID-emergency recruitment. At this second screening, eight subjects (1.3%) tested positive, thus being diagnosed as asymptomatic carriers of SARS-CoV-2. They were one physician, five nurses, and two HCW from the logistic/support services. They were employed in eight different wards/services. In all cases, the epidemiological investigation showed convincing evidence that the infection was acquired through social contacts. The study revealed a very low circulation of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCW tested with RT-PCR. All the infections documented in the second wave of epidemic of SARS-CoV-2 were acquired outside of the workplace, confirming that in a pediatric hospital setting, HCW education, correct use of personal protective equipment, and separation of the COVID-patient pathway and staff flow may minimize the risk derived from occupational exposure.

ACS Style

Désirée Caselli; Daniela Loconsole; Rita Dario; Maria Chironna; Maurizio Aricò. Effectiveness of Preventive Measures in Keeping Low Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Health Care Workers in a Referral Children’s Hospital in Southern Italy. Pediatric Reports 2021, 13, 118 -124.

AMA Style

Désirée Caselli, Daniela Loconsole, Rita Dario, Maria Chironna, Maurizio Aricò. Effectiveness of Preventive Measures in Keeping Low Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Health Care Workers in a Referral Children’s Hospital in Southern Italy. Pediatric Reports. 2021; 13 (1):118-124.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Désirée Caselli; Daniela Loconsole; Rita Dario; Maria Chironna; Maurizio Aricò. 2021. "Effectiveness of Preventive Measures in Keeping Low Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Health Care Workers in a Referral Children’s Hospital in Southern Italy." Pediatric Reports 13, no. 1: 118-124.

Communication
Published: 11 February 2021 in Viruses
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The coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and presents a global health emergency that needs urgent intervention. Viruses constantly change through mutation, and new variants of a virus are expected to occur over time. In the United Kingdom (UK), a new variant called B.1.1.7 has emerged with an unusually large number of mutations. The aim of this study is to evaluate the level of protection of sera from 12 patients infected and later healed in Apulia Region (Italy) with Covid-19 between March and November 2020, when the English variant was not circulating in this territory yet, against the new VOC 202012/01 variant by seroneutralization assay. The sera of patients had already been tested before, using a virus belonging to the lineage B.1 and showed an antibody neutralizing titer ranging between 1:160 and 1:320. All the 12 sera donors confirmed the same titers of neutralizing antibodies obtained with a strain belonging to the lineage B.1.1.7 (VOC 202012/01). These data indicate that antibodies produced in subjects infected with variants of Sars-CoV-2 strain before the appearance of the English one, seem to have a neutralizing power also against this variant.

ACS Style

Valeria Rondinone; Lorenzo Pace; Antonio Fasanella; Viviana Manzulli; Antonio Parisi; Maria Capobianchi; Angelo Ostuni; Maria Chironna; Elisabetta Caprioli; Maria Labonia; Dora Cipolletta; Ines Della Rovere; Luigina Serrecchia; Fiorenza Petruzzi; Germana Pennuzzi; Domenico Galante. VOC 202012/01 Variant Is Effectively Neutralized by Antibodies Produced by Patients Infected before Its Diffusion in Italy. Viruses 2021, 13, 276 .

AMA Style

Valeria Rondinone, Lorenzo Pace, Antonio Fasanella, Viviana Manzulli, Antonio Parisi, Maria Capobianchi, Angelo Ostuni, Maria Chironna, Elisabetta Caprioli, Maria Labonia, Dora Cipolletta, Ines Della Rovere, Luigina Serrecchia, Fiorenza Petruzzi, Germana Pennuzzi, Domenico Galante. VOC 202012/01 Variant Is Effectively Neutralized by Antibodies Produced by Patients Infected before Its Diffusion in Italy. Viruses. 2021; 13 (2):276.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Valeria Rondinone; Lorenzo Pace; Antonio Fasanella; Viviana Manzulli; Antonio Parisi; Maria Capobianchi; Angelo Ostuni; Maria Chironna; Elisabetta Caprioli; Maria Labonia; Dora Cipolletta; Ines Della Rovere; Luigina Serrecchia; Fiorenza Petruzzi; Germana Pennuzzi; Domenico Galante. 2021. "VOC 202012/01 Variant Is Effectively Neutralized by Antibodies Produced by Patients Infected before Its Diffusion in Italy." Viruses 13, no. 2: 276.

Journal article
Published: 28 January 2021
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Daniela Loconsole; Anna Sallustio; Marisa Accogli; Francesca Centrone; Loredana Capozzi; Laura Del Sambro; Antonio Parisi; Maria Chironna. Genome Sequence of a SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01 Strain Identified from a Patient Returning from London, England, to the Apulia Region of Italy. 2021, 10, 1 .

AMA Style

Daniela Loconsole, Anna Sallustio, Marisa Accogli, Francesca Centrone, Loredana Capozzi, Laura Del Sambro, Antonio Parisi, Maria Chironna. Genome Sequence of a SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01 Strain Identified from a Patient Returning from London, England, to the Apulia Region of Italy. . 2021; 10 (4):1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniela Loconsole; Anna Sallustio; Marisa Accogli; Francesca Centrone; Loredana Capozzi; Laura Del Sambro; Antonio Parisi; Maria Chironna. 2021. "Genome Sequence of a SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01 Strain Identified from a Patient Returning from London, England, to the Apulia Region of Italy." 10, no. 4: 1.

Journal article
Published: 28 January 2021 in Microbiology Resource Announcements
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The coding-complete sequence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was obtained from a sample from a 25-year-old female returning to the Apulia region of Italy from England. The characterized strain showed all of the spike protein mutations defining SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01, as well as other mutations in the spike protein and in other genomic regions.

ACS Style

Daniela Loconsole; Anna Sallustio; Marisa Accogli; Francesca Centrone; Loredana Capozzi; Laura Del Sambro; Antonio Parisi; Maria Chironna. Genome Sequence of a SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01 Strain Identified from a Patient Returning from London, England, to the Apulia Region of Italy. Microbiology Resource Announcements 2021, 10, 1 .

AMA Style

Daniela Loconsole, Anna Sallustio, Marisa Accogli, Francesca Centrone, Loredana Capozzi, Laura Del Sambro, Antonio Parisi, Maria Chironna. Genome Sequence of a SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01 Strain Identified from a Patient Returning from London, England, to the Apulia Region of Italy. Microbiology Resource Announcements. 2021; 10 (4):1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniela Loconsole; Anna Sallustio; Marisa Accogli; Francesca Centrone; Loredana Capozzi; Laura Del Sambro; Antonio Parisi; Maria Chironna. 2021. "Genome Sequence of a SARS-CoV-2 VUI 202012/01 Strain Identified from a Patient Returning from London, England, to the Apulia Region of Italy." Microbiology Resource Announcements 10, no. 4: 1.

Short communication
Published: 07 January 2021 in Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
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Human astroviruses (AstVs) are usually associated with acute gastroenteritis. In recent years, atypical animal‐like AstVs have been identified, but their pathogenic role in humans has not been determined. Starting from 2010, there has been a growing evidence that AstVs may also be associated with encephalitis in human and animal hosts. Some human atypical AstV strains (VA1, MLB1/MLB2) display neurotropic potential, as they have been repeatedly identified in patients with AstV‐related encephalitis, chiefly in immunosuppressed individuals. In this study, a VA1‐like AstV was identified from a single stool sample from an outbreak of foodborne acute gastroenteritis occurred in Italy in 2018. On genome sequencing, the virus was related to the VA1‐like strain UK1 (99.3% at the nucleotide level). Similar viruses were also found to circulate in paediatric patients hospitalized with AGE in the same time span, 2018, but at low prevalence (0.75%, 3/401). Gathering epidemiological data on atypical AstVs will be useful to assess the risks posed by atypical AstV infections, chiefly in medically fragile patients.

ACS Style

Gianvito Lanave; Daniela Loconsole; Francesca Centrone; Cristiana Catella; Paolo Capozza; Georgia Diakoudi; Antonio Parisi; Elisabetta Suffredini; Alessio Buonavoglia; Michele Camero; Maria Chironna; Vito Martella. Astrovirus VA1 in patients with acute gastroenteritis. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases 2021, 1 .

AMA Style

Gianvito Lanave, Daniela Loconsole, Francesca Centrone, Cristiana Catella, Paolo Capozza, Georgia Diakoudi, Antonio Parisi, Elisabetta Suffredini, Alessio Buonavoglia, Michele Camero, Maria Chironna, Vito Martella. Astrovirus VA1 in patients with acute gastroenteritis. Transboundary and Emerging Diseases. 2021; ():1.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gianvito Lanave; Daniela Loconsole; Francesca Centrone; Cristiana Catella; Paolo Capozza; Georgia Diakoudi; Antonio Parisi; Elisabetta Suffredini; Alessio Buonavoglia; Michele Camero; Maria Chironna; Vito Martella. 2021. "Astrovirus VA1 in patients with acute gastroenteritis." Transboundary and Emerging Diseases , no. : 1.

Journal article
Published: 01 December 2020 in Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases
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Background: Italy was declared malaria free by the World Health Organization in 1970. Despite this, nonimport malaria cases are on the increase in Italy and throughout the Mediterranean area. In Italy, in the period between 2011 and 2015, seven cases of locally acquired malaria have been reported, including one introduced case of Plasmodium vivax; moreover, the last certain case of introduced malaria (by P. vivax) has been reported in Tuscany in 1997. No case of introduced malaria from Plasmodium falciparum has been reported in Italy since 1970.Case Presentation: A cluster of four cryptic P. falciparum malaria cases were ascertained in migrant farm workers (three from Morocco and one from Sudan) in Apulia (southern Italy) with clinical onset between September 20 and 27, 2017. None of the patients reported a history of a recent trip to malaria-endemic areas or hospitalization or other risk factors. Typing of malaria was also confirmed using molecular biology methods in two different laboratories. There were no cases of severe malaria in our four patients, and only one in need of transfusion. All patients were discharged cured after being treated with mefloquine due to the unavailability of other antimalarials.Conclusions: In recent years, numerous reports of locally acquired malaria have been made in southern Europe. The cases described in this article represent the first cluster of malaria caused by P. falciparum in Europe. Today, clinical presentation in the diagnosis of malaria is more important than ever, since epidemiological criterion cannot be considered unfailing. The mode of transmission has not been proven and further biological and entomological studies are necessary to define our case as cryptic or confirm the presence of mosquitoes capable of transmitting P. falciparum and/or the capacity of Anopheles labranchiae, An. superpictus, or An. plumbeus to transmit it on Italian territory.

ACS Style

Gaetano Brindicci; Carmen Rita Santoro; Daniela Loconsole; Domenico Martinelli; Rosa Prato; Gaetano Lonero; Pietro Loperfido; Giovanni Battista Buccoliero; Maria Chironna. A Cluster of Cryptic Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in African Migrants in Southern Italy, October 2017. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases 2020, 20, 927 -931.

AMA Style

Gaetano Brindicci, Carmen Rita Santoro, Daniela Loconsole, Domenico Martinelli, Rosa Prato, Gaetano Lonero, Pietro Loperfido, Giovanni Battista Buccoliero, Maria Chironna. A Cluster of Cryptic Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in African Migrants in Southern Italy, October 2017. Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases. 2020; 20 (12):927-931.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Gaetano Brindicci; Carmen Rita Santoro; Daniela Loconsole; Domenico Martinelli; Rosa Prato; Gaetano Lonero; Pietro Loperfido; Giovanni Battista Buccoliero; Maria Chironna. 2020. "A Cluster of Cryptic Plasmodium falciparum Malaria in African Migrants in Southern Italy, October 2017." Vector-Borne and Zoonotic Diseases 20, no. 12: 927-931.

Journal article
Published: 03 November 2020 in International Journal of Infectious Diseases
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Objectives to determine the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among exposed HCWs after preventive protocol implementation. Methods 5750 HCWs. Those in contact with COVID-19 patients were allocated into a high-risk or a low-risk group based on contact type (PPE- or non-PPE-protected); high risk workers underwent nasopharyngeal swab tests, while for low-risk workers swab tests were carried out only for symptomatic workers (active surveillance). The prevalence was determined by real-time reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction on nasopharyngeal samples. Results 3570 HCWs had contact with 1065 COVID-19 patients. Among them, 3494 were subjected to active surveillance (low-risk group); 2886 (82.60%) were subjected to a swab test and 15 were positive (0.52%). 76 HCWs (2.13% of exposed) were included in the high-risk group, and a swab test was mandatory for each participant. Overall, 66 (86.84% of high-risk) were negative, and 10 positive (13.16%), resulting in a higher risk of infection than in the low-risk group [OR = 29.00; 95% CI:12.56-66.94; p < 0.0001]. Conclusion To date, the SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence is 0.70% among exposed HCWs and 0.435% among all HCWs working at the examined university hospital. The correct use of PPE and the early identification of symptomatic workers are essential factors to avoiding nosocomial clusters.

ACS Style

Luigi Vimercati; Luigi De Maria; Marco Quarato; Antonio Caputi; Pasquale Stefanizzi; Loreto Gesualdo; Giovanni Migliore; Fulvio Italo Maria Fucilli; Domenica Cavone; Maria Celeste Delfino; Stefania Sponselli; Maria Chironna; Silvio Tafuri. COVID-19 hospital outbreaks: Protecting healthcare workers to protect frail patients. An Italian observational cohort study. International Journal of Infectious Diseases 2020, 102, 532 -537.

AMA Style

Luigi Vimercati, Luigi De Maria, Marco Quarato, Antonio Caputi, Pasquale Stefanizzi, Loreto Gesualdo, Giovanni Migliore, Fulvio Italo Maria Fucilli, Domenica Cavone, Maria Celeste Delfino, Stefania Sponselli, Maria Chironna, Silvio Tafuri. COVID-19 hospital outbreaks: Protecting healthcare workers to protect frail patients. An Italian observational cohort study. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. 2020; 102 ():532-537.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Luigi Vimercati; Luigi De Maria; Marco Quarato; Antonio Caputi; Pasquale Stefanizzi; Loreto Gesualdo; Giovanni Migliore; Fulvio Italo Maria Fucilli; Domenica Cavone; Maria Celeste Delfino; Stefania Sponselli; Maria Chironna; Silvio Tafuri. 2020. "COVID-19 hospital outbreaks: Protecting healthcare workers to protect frail patients. An Italian observational cohort study." International Journal of Infectious Diseases 102, no. : 532-537.

Journal article
Published: 30 October 2020 in Journal of Medical Internet Research
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Background Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing for the identification of viral nucleic acid is the current standard for the diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but technical issues limit its utilization for large-scale screening. Serological immunoglobulin M (IgM)/IgG testing has been proposed as a useful tool for detecting SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Objective The objective of our study was to compare the results of the rapid serological VivaDiag test for SARS-CoV-2–related IgM/IgG detection with those of the standard RT-PCR laboratory test for identifying SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid. Methods We simultaneously performed both serological and molecular tests with a consecutive series of 191 symptomatic patients. The results provided by a new rapid serological colorimetric test for analyzing IgM/IgG expression were compared with those of RT-PCR testing for SARS-CoV-2 detection. Results Of the 191 subjects, 70 (36.6%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 based on RT-PCR results, while 34 (17.3%) tested positive based on serological IgM/IgG expression. Additionally, 13 (6.8%) subjects tested positive based on serological test results, but also tested negative based on RT-PCR results. The rapid serological test had a sensitivity of 30% and a specificity of 89% compared to the standard RT-PCR assay. Interestingly, the performance of both assays improved 8 days after symptom appearance. After 10 days had passed since symptom appearance, the predictive value of the rapid serological test was higher than that of the standard molecular assay (proportion of positive results: 40% vs 20%). Multivariate analysis showed that age >58 years (P<.01) and period of >15 days after symptom onset (P<.02) were significant and independent factors associated with serological test positivity. Conclusions The rapid serological test analyzed in this study seems limited in terms of usefulness when diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, it may be useful for providing relevant information on people’s immunoreaction to COVID-19 exposure.

ACS Style

Angelo Virgilio Paradiso; Simona De Summa; Daniela Loconsole; Vito Procacci; Anna Sallustio; Francesca Centrone; Nicola Silvestris; Vito Cafagna; Giuseppe De Palma; Antonio Tufaro; Vito Michele Garrisi; Maria Chironna. Rapid Serological Assays and SARS-CoV-2 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assays for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2: Comparative Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research 2020, 22, e19152 .

AMA Style

Angelo Virgilio Paradiso, Simona De Summa, Daniela Loconsole, Vito Procacci, Anna Sallustio, Francesca Centrone, Nicola Silvestris, Vito Cafagna, Giuseppe De Palma, Antonio Tufaro, Vito Michele Garrisi, Maria Chironna. Rapid Serological Assays and SARS-CoV-2 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assays for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2: Comparative Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research. 2020; 22 (10):e19152.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Angelo Virgilio Paradiso; Simona De Summa; Daniela Loconsole; Vito Procacci; Anna Sallustio; Francesca Centrone; Nicola Silvestris; Vito Cafagna; Giuseppe De Palma; Antonio Tufaro; Vito Michele Garrisi; Maria Chironna. 2020. "Rapid Serological Assays and SARS-CoV-2 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction Assays for the Detection of SARS-CoV-2: Comparative Study." Journal of Medical Internet Research 22, no. 10: e19152.

Journal article
Published: 07 September 2020 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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A critical point in the management of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is the need to promptly identify the greatest number of infected people and to implement strict public health measures. In this study, the performance of a rapid serological test in a clinical setting was evaluated. Samples from 819 consecutive patients (with or without respiratory symptoms) admitted to a large Emergency Department were tested between 23 March and 21 April 2020. Patient samples were tested in a real-time PCR assay and a serological assay. In total, 148/819 patients (18.1%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time PCR. The serological test revealed that 70/819 patients (8.5%) had anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgM and/or IgG. The prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was significantly higher in patients with respiratory symptoms lasting for >7 days than in those with respiratory symptoms lasting for 0–7 days (p < 0.001). The serological assay had an overall sensitivity of 35.1% and an overall specificity of 97.3%. A high negative predictive value (96.7%) was reported for patients without respiratory symptoms. The results confirm that rapid serological assays alone are not sufficient for diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection but can be incorporated into large-scale screening programs during periods in which the virus circulation is low.

ACS Style

Daniela Loconsole; Francesca Centrone; Caterina Morcavallo; Silvia Campanella; Anna Sallustio; Michele Quarto; Vito Procacci; Maria Chironna. The Light and Shadow of Rapid Serological Tests for SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Results from a Study in a Large Emergency Department. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17, 6493 .

AMA Style

Daniela Loconsole, Francesca Centrone, Caterina Morcavallo, Silvia Campanella, Anna Sallustio, Michele Quarto, Vito Procacci, Maria Chironna. The Light and Shadow of Rapid Serological Tests for SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Results from a Study in a Large Emergency Department. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17 (18):6493.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniela Loconsole; Francesca Centrone; Caterina Morcavallo; Silvia Campanella; Anna Sallustio; Michele Quarto; Vito Procacci; Maria Chironna. 2020. "The Light and Shadow of Rapid Serological Tests for SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Results from a Study in a Large Emergency Department." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 18: 6493.

Journal article
Published: 21 August 2020 in International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
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At the beginning of the coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Italy was one of the most affected countries in Europe. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is less frequent and less severe in children than in adults. This study analyzed the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection among all children aged <18 years in the Apulia region of southern Italy and the characteristics of the infected children. Clinical and demographic data were collected through the national platform for COVID-19 surveillance. Of the 166 infected children in the Apulia region, 104 (62.6%) were asymptomatic, 37 (22.3%) had mild infections, 22 (13.3%) had moderate infections, and 3 (1.8%) had severe infections. Only ten children (6.0%) were hospitalized, but none required intensive care support and none died. SARS-CoV-2 infection was transmitted mainly from parents or relatives to children. Because of school closure during the lockdown, infection was unlikely to have been transmitted among children. It is unclear whether school reopening would enhance virus spread, leading the Italian government to develop guidelines for safe school reopening. The actual role of children in virus transmission remains unclear. A sensitive surveillance system, prompt identification of cases, testing, and contact tracing will be key to reducing the further spread of infection.

ACS Style

Daniela Loconsole; Desirèe Caselli; Francesca Centrone; Caterina Morcavallo; Silvia Campanella; Maurizio Aricò; Maria Chironna. SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children in Southern Italy: A Descriptive Case Series. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 2020, 17, 6080 .

AMA Style

Daniela Loconsole, Desirèe Caselli, Francesca Centrone, Caterina Morcavallo, Silvia Campanella, Maurizio Aricò, Maria Chironna. SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children in Southern Italy: A Descriptive Case Series. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2020; 17 (17):6080.

Chicago/Turabian Style

Daniela Loconsole; Desirèe Caselli; Francesca Centrone; Caterina Morcavallo; Silvia Campanella; Maurizio Aricò; Maria Chironna. 2020. "SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children in Southern Italy: A Descriptive Case Series." International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 17, no. 17: 6080.