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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]

According to recent investigations, the risk of M. chimaera contamination of heater-cooler units (HCUs) has reached global proportions. Our aim was to field evaluate a protocol for early detection of M. chimaera contamination. We assessed the presence of viable M. chimaera in 395 water samples obtained from 48 devices (HCUs and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) by Real Time PCR. Thirty devices were NTM positive, of which 14 were contaminated with M. chimaera. The most frequently contaminated devices were the Stockert 3T. Noteworthy, Stockert 3T devices were positive for M. chimaera. In conclusion, this study introduces novel PMA-PCR designed to specifically detect M. chimaera in HCUs and ECMO devices; this method can replace the culture method for continuous microbiological surveillance. The timely detection of M. chimaera contamination can then be used to improve effective management of the devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we evaluated (1) the efficacy of a protocol that combines hydrogen peroxide (shock treatment) and ICX® tablets (continuous treatment) for the control of microbial contamination in dental unit water lines, and (2) the in vitro antimicrobial activity of ICX® tablets on collection and wild strains isolated from dental chair output waters. To assess the treatment effectiveness, the microbial load in the output water samples of three dental chairs were investigated: one control chair received only shock treatment. In vitro bactericidal activity was tested against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Data obtained from samples collected from chairs treated with ICX® and shock treatment and data from the control chair did not differ significantly on the basis of microbial load. In the in vitro study, the product was unable to kill Gram-negative bacteria. These results show that the continuous introduction of ICX® was not effective in maintaining low counts of the heterotrophic bacteria in the output water of dental devices, and shock treatment may be needed more frequently than monthly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Does ABO blood group influence antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination? In two recent studies published in I Vox Sanguinis i , de Freitas Dutra et al. and Bloch et al. investigated whether ABO blood group was associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody response following natural infection in convalescent plasma donors [1, 2]. de Freitas Dutra et al. found lower infection prevalence, and neutralizing and anti-nucleocapsid antibody titres among blood types O and B compared to A and AB [1]. It has been proposed that anti-A antibodies in blood group O individuals could interfere in the interaction between SARS-CoV-2 and its receptor, decreasing the susceptibility to infection of blood group O individuals [3]. [Extracted from the article]

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.