Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in student residences: a case-ascertained study
Abstract Background We aimed to investigate the overall secondary attack rates (SAR) of COVID-19 in student residences and to identify risk factors for higher transmission. Methods We retrospectively analysed the SAR in living units of student residences which were screened in Leuven (Belgium) follo...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-09-01
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| Series: | Archives of Public Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-022-00966-4 |
| _version_ | 1811208637577691136 |
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| author | Marte Vanbesien Geert Molenberghs Caspar Geenen Jonathan Thibaut Sarah Gorissen Emmanuel André Joren Raymenants |
| author_facet | Marte Vanbesien Geert Molenberghs Caspar Geenen Jonathan Thibaut Sarah Gorissen Emmanuel André Joren Raymenants |
| author_sort | Marte Vanbesien |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background We aimed to investigate the overall secondary attack rates (SAR) of COVID-19 in student residences and to identify risk factors for higher transmission. Methods We retrospectively analysed the SAR in living units of student residences which were screened in Leuven (Belgium) following the detection of a COVID-19 case. Students were followed up in the framework of a routine testing and tracing follow-up system. We considered residence outbreaks followed up between October 30th 2020 and May 25th 2021. We used generalized estimating equations (GEE) to evaluate the impact of delay to follow-up, shared kitchen or sanitary facilities, the presence of a known external infection source and the recent occurrence of a social gathering. We used a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) for validation. Results We included 165 student residences, representing 200 residence units (N screened residents = 2324). Secondary transmission occurred in 68 units which corresponded to 176 secondary cases. The overall observed SAR was 8.2%. In the GEE model, shared sanitary facilities (p = 0.04) and the recent occurrence of a social gathering (p = 0.003) were associated with a significant increase in SAR in a living unit, which was estimated at 3% (95%CI 1.5-5.2) in the absence of any risk factor and 13% (95%CI 11.4-15.8) in the presence of both. The GLMM confirmed these findings. Conclusions Shared sanitary facilities and the occurrence of social gatherings increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission and should be considered when screening and implementing preventive measures. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:24:56Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ccea4556c5ab4cc5bb8d4e345157bd29 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2049-3258 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T04:24:56Z |
| publishDate | 2022-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Archives of Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-ccea4556c5ab4cc5bb8d4e345157bd292022-12-22T03:48:06ZengBMCArchives of Public Health2049-32582022-09-018011910.1186/s13690-022-00966-4Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in student residences: a case-ascertained studyMarte Vanbesien0Geert Molenberghs1Caspar Geenen2Jonathan Thibaut3Sarah Gorissen4Emmanuel André5Joren Raymenants6Faculty of Medicine, KU LeuvenInteruniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Data Science Institute, Hasselt UniversityDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU LeuvenDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU LeuvenDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU LeuvenDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU LeuvenDepartment of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU LeuvenAbstract Background We aimed to investigate the overall secondary attack rates (SAR) of COVID-19 in student residences and to identify risk factors for higher transmission. Methods We retrospectively analysed the SAR in living units of student residences which were screened in Leuven (Belgium) following the detection of a COVID-19 case. Students were followed up in the framework of a routine testing and tracing follow-up system. We considered residence outbreaks followed up between October 30th 2020 and May 25th 2021. We used generalized estimating equations (GEE) to evaluate the impact of delay to follow-up, shared kitchen or sanitary facilities, the presence of a known external infection source and the recent occurrence of a social gathering. We used a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) for validation. Results We included 165 student residences, representing 200 residence units (N screened residents = 2324). Secondary transmission occurred in 68 units which corresponded to 176 secondary cases. The overall observed SAR was 8.2%. In the GEE model, shared sanitary facilities (p = 0.04) and the recent occurrence of a social gathering (p = 0.003) were associated with a significant increase in SAR in a living unit, which was estimated at 3% (95%CI 1.5-5.2) in the absence of any risk factor and 13% (95%CI 11.4-15.8) in the presence of both. The GLMM confirmed these findings. Conclusions Shared sanitary facilities and the occurrence of social gatherings increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission and should be considered when screening and implementing preventive measures.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-022-00966-4COVID-19SARS-CoV-2TransmissionRisk factorsStudent residenceShared household |
| spellingShingle | Marte Vanbesien Geert Molenberghs Caspar Geenen Jonathan Thibaut Sarah Gorissen Emmanuel André Joren Raymenants Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in student residences: a case-ascertained study Archives of Public Health COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Risk factors Student residence Shared household |
| title | Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in student residences: a case-ascertained study |
| title_full | Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in student residences: a case-ascertained study |
| title_fullStr | Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in student residences: a case-ascertained study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in student residences: a case-ascertained study |
| title_short | Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 transmission in student residences: a case-ascertained study |
| title_sort | risk factors for sars cov 2 transmission in student residences a case ascertained study |
| topic | COVID-19 SARS-CoV-2 Transmission Risk factors Student residence Shared household |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-022-00966-4 |
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