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Background Although the long-term consequences of the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are yet to be fully comprehended, a syndrome symptomatically akin to the COVID-19 disease has been defined, for children and adolescents, in February 2023 by the World Health Organization (WHO) as 'post COVID-19 condition' (PCC). Potential consequences of COVID-19 that affect developmental milestones in children and adolescents should be comprehended in their magnitude and duration. The aim is to investigate the most common symptoms and predictors or risk factors for pediatric PCC. Methods In this umbrella review, the population of interest was defined as children and adolescents from 0 to 19 years old presenting PCC symptoms as defined by the WHO in the International Classification of Diseases. The intervention considered was general follow-up activity to monitor the patients' recovery status. No comparator was chosen, and the outcomes were symptoms of PCC and predictors or risk factors of developing PCC. Methodological quality, risk of bias and the level of overlap between studies were assessed. A random-effects meta-analytic synthesis of respective estimates with inverse variance study weighting was carried out, for the primary studies included by the reviews retrieved, regarding predictors or risk factors reported. Results We identified six eligible systematic reviews, five with meta-analyses, from three databases. The most common symptoms reported were fatigue and respiratory difficulties; female sex and older age were the most reported factors associated with the development of pediatric PCC. Conclusions A deeper understanding of pediatric PCC requires well-designed and clearly defined prospective studies, symptom differentiation, and adequate follow-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare‐associated infections (HAIs) are a global public health threat. Italy is one of the countries with the highest prevalence of HAI. Hand hygiene (HH) is a pillar of infection prevention and control. Monitoring HH is necessary to improve HH compliance, and direct observation is considered the gold standard. Transcription and analysis of data collected during direct observation of HH compliance with the WHO paper form are time‐consuming. We collected, during a 9‐day observation period, HH opportunities and compliance both with a smartphone application (SpeedyAudit) and with the WHO paper form. Then, we investigated the difference in the required time for data transcription and analysis between the WHO paper form and the use of the app. The difference in the required time for data transcription and analysis was significant with a mean time of 2 s using the app and about 14–54 min/day using paper form (p =.004) while no significant difference was found in measured compliance rates between the two data collecting methods. HH monitoring with an app is time‐saving, and the app we used was easy to use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims: Long‐term care facilities (LTCFs) have been severely impacted by COVID‐19, with a disproportionate amount of SARS‐CoV‐2 infections and related deaths occurring among residents. Methods: This study is part of an ongoing multicenter, prospective cohort study conducted among healthcare workers (HCWs) and residents of 13 LTCFs in Northern Italy designed to evaluate SARS‐CoV‐2 specific immunoglobulin class G (IgG) titers before and following vaccination with Pfizer/BNT162b2 SARS‐CoV‐2 mRNA vaccine (two doses of vaccine, 21 days apart). Serum samples were obtained from participants (t0) before vaccination, and (t1) 2 weeks after and analyzed to determine anti‐S1 IgG antibodies. Results: Five hundred and thirty‐four participants were enrolled (404 subjects participated in both blood draws). Seropositivity was 50.19% at t0 and 99% at t1, with a significant difference in IgG titers. A higher proportion of residents were seropositive at t0 compared with HCWs, with significantly higher IgG titers among residents at both t0 and t1. Pre‐existing immunity also had a significant effect on postvaccination IgG titers. However, a significant difference in titers at t1 between HCWs and residents considering only participants seropositive at t0 was found, with higher median titers among previously seropositive residents. Conclusion: Findings of this study provide scientific evidence endorsing the policy of universal vaccination in LTCFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long‐term care facilities (LTCFs) are high‐risk settings for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection. This study aimed to describe SARS‐CoV‐2 seropositivity among residents of LTCFs and health‐care workers (HCWs). Subjects were recruited in January 2021 among unvaccinated HCWs of LTCFs and hospitals and residents of LTCFs in Northern Italy. Information concerning previous SARS‐CoV‐2 infections and a sample of peripheral blood were collected. Anti‐S SARS‐CoV‐2 IgG antibodies were measured using the EUROIMMUN Anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 QuantiVac ELISA kit (EUROIMMUN Medizinische Labordiagnostika AG). For subjects with previous COVID‐19 infection, gender, age, type of subject (HCW or resident), and time between last positive swab and blood draw were considered as possible determinants of two outcomes: the probability to obtain a positive serological result and antibody titer. Six hundred and fifty‐eight subjects were enrolled. 56.1% of all subjects and 65% of residents presented positive results (overall median antibody titer: 31.0 RU/ml). Multivariable models identified a statistically significant 4% decrease in the estimated antibody level for each 30‐day increase from the last positive swab. HCWs were associated with significant odds for seroreversion over time (OR: 0.926 for every 30 days, 95% CI: 0.860–0.998), contrary to residents (OR: 1.059, 95% CI: 0.919–1.22). Age and gender were not factors predicting seropositivity over time. Residents could have a higher probability of maintaining a seropositive status over time compared to HCWs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) were severely affected by COVID-19, in particular in Northern Italy. We aimed to assess antibody responses among residents and healthcare workers (HCWs) of 13 LTCFs through serum samples collected at three time points: prior to, two weeks, and 9 months after receiving Pfizer/BNT162b2 SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccine (respectively t0, t1, and t2). IgG antibodies targeted towards the S1 domain of the spike protein were measured, and results were expressed in binding antibody units (BAU/mL). Friedman's average rank test was performed to compare antibody titres between the three time points. Two logistic regression models were built to identify independent predictors of (1) developing and (2) maintaining a significant antibody response to vaccination, using a previously identified threshold. In total, 534 subjects were enrolled (371 HCWs and 163 residents). The antibody titres at t1 were the highest; at t2, the IgG titres significantly decreased, remaining however 10 times higher compared to titres at t0. Previous infection was the only significant predictor of developing and maintaining a response over threshold in both models. Results of this study provided further insights on the humoral response elicited by vaccination, and on host factors determining variations in its magnitude and kinetics.