COVID-19 among healthcare workers in a Southern Brazilian Hospital and evaluation of a diagnostic strategy based on the RT-PCR test and retest for Sars-CoV-2

OBJECTIVE: Healthcare workers are at risk for COVID-19 contamination. It is important to protect them in order to reduce nosocomial transmission and maintain the assistance capacity of health systems. To evaluate the diagnostic test and retest strategy with RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 and factors associated with the diagnosis of COVID-19 among healthcare workers. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cross-sectional study carried out in a Brazilian hospital. From April 27 to June 16, 2020, symptomatic healthcare workers underwent an RT-PCR test on upper respiratory tract specimens as soon as possible and, if negative, it was repeated close to the 5th day of symptom evolution. Working areas were divided into assistance areas dedicated or not dedicated to COVID-19 and non-assistance areas. The type of activity was divided into assistance or non-assistance activity. RESULTS: 775 individuals were evaluated. 114 were diagnosed with COVID-19, of whom 101 followed the testing protocol. A second RT-PCR identified five (4.9%) of the positive cases. Working in an area dedicated to patients with COVID-19 was more prevalent among positive cases (35.1% x 19.8%, p=0.001) as well as working in an assistance activity (80.7% x 70.8%, p=0.031). CONCLUSIONS: A second RT-PCR test after the 5th day of symptom evolution showed limited diagnostic improvement. The adoption of a single test-based strategy, carried out at the right time after the onset of symptoms, allows the optimal use of resources. Working in a COVID-19 dedicated area and in direct contact with patients is related to a higher prevalence of COVID-19 among symptomatic healthcare workers

Reduction in COVID-19 prevalence in healthcare workers in a university hospital in southern Brazil after the start of vaccination

Introduction: The quick spread of SARS-CoV-2 led to the development of vaccines that are capable of reducing infection and the number of more severe COVID-19 cases. Aim: To assess COVID-19 prevalence among healthcare workers (HCWs) after vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study on the prevalence of COVID-19 diagnosis among 7523 HCWs vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 with CoronaVac and ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 in a university hospital, in southern Brazil, between January 18 and March 18, 2021.The variables evaluated were: sex, age, work area, role, source of infection, previous diagnosis of COVID-19, date of vaccine administration, type of vaccine, and need for hospitalization. The statistical analysis used Poisson regression and Fisher's exact test with SPSS software version 25, and a level of significance set at 5%. Results: 813 vaccinated HCWs showed symptoms suggestive of COVID-19, of whom 35.4% (288) had a detectable result after undergoing RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2. There was a reduction of 62% in new cases of COVID-19 among HCWs in the institution 7 weeks after the start of vaccine rollout. Conclusion: Our data suggest that the vaccines used by the institution reduced the number of COVID-19 cases among healthcare workers, demonstrating the effectiveness of the vaccines

Fibromialgia e atividade física: benefícios e fatores de não adesão

The objective of this study was to analyze the benefits and non-adherence factors of the practice of physical activity in people with Fibromyalgia Syndrome. It is an integrative review study with a qualitative and descriptive bias. We searched the BVS, SciELO and LILACS, grouping the published works from January 2010 to March 2019, using the following descriptors: Fibromyalgia, exercise and physical activity. Of the 252 papers found, 29 were used, according to the criteria adopted. The reviewed studies point to several types of physical activity as beneficial: aerobic, aquatic, rhythmic, strength, flexibility and associated activities. In the results there were more benefits (sleep, autonomy, psychological aspect, emotional aspect and well-being) than factors of non-adherence (fear, studies, avoidance and health) for the practice of physical activity, such results suggest the importance of the study population become physically active.O estudo objetiva analisar os benefícios e fatores de não adesão da prática da atividade física em pessoas com a Síndrome de Fibromialgia. Trata-se de um estudo de revisão integrativa com viés qualitativo e caráter descritivo. Foram realizadas buscas na BVS, Scielo e LILACS, agrupando os trabalhos publicados no período de janeiro de 2010 até março de 2019, utilizou-se os seguintes descritores: Fibromialgia, exercício e atividade física. Dos 252 trabalhos encontrados, 29 foram utilizados, conforme os critérios adotados. Os estudos revisados apontam vários tipos de atividades físicas como benéficas: atividades aeróbicas, aquáticas, rítmicas, de força, flexibilidade e associadas com outras. Nos resultados houve mais benefícios (sono, autonomia, aspecto psicológico, aspecto emocional e bem-estar) do que fatores de não adesão (medo, estudos, evasão e saúde) para a prática da atividade física, tais resultados sugerem a importância da população estudada se tornar fisicamente ativa

Educação em tempos de Pandemia (Covid-19): uma análise microssocial

Este artigo tem por objetivo apresentar os reflexos da pandemia de Covid-19 na educação a partir de uma análise microssocial embasada nas perspectivas familiares de pais e/ou responsáveis de crianças matriculadas em uma escola pública de ensino fundamental da rede estadual, localizada na cidade de Salinas-MG. A metodologia parte de uma proposta quali-quantitativa desenvolvida através de um survey. Os resultados evidenciam alto nível de sobrecarga à figura materna, índices consideráveis de insegurança referentes ao sentimento atribuído de aptidão para auxílio e acompanhamento das crianças e insatisfação pelo desenvolvimento infantil apresentado durante a pandemia, além de demonstrativos positivos de satisfação familiar quanto ao trabalho e preparo docente e desempenho da escola na condução das aulas remotas e auxílio à comunidade escolar. Também são percebidas tendências temerárias como a frequência a espaços públicos e a casas de familiares, vizinhos ou amigos como única alternativa de acesso à internet e o alto nível de reprovação à postura do governo ante ao combate da Covid-19 e à viabilização das aulas remotas