As of 10 April 2020, New York State had 180,458 cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and 9,385 reported deaths. Patients with cancer comprised 8.4% of deceased ...individuals
. Population-based studies from China and Italy suggested a higher coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) death rate in patients with cancer
, although there is a knowledge gap as to which aspects of cancer and its treatment confer risk of severe COVID-19
. This information is critical to balance the competing safety considerations of reducing SARS-CoV-2 exposure and cancer treatment continuation. From 10 March to 7 April 2020, 423 cases of symptomatic COVID-19 were diagnosed at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (from a total of 2,035 patients with cancer tested). Of these, 40% were hospitalized for COVID-19, 20% developed severe respiratory illness (including 9% who required mechanical ventilation) and 12% died within 30 d. Age older than 65 years and treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) were predictors for hospitalization and severe disease, whereas receipt of chemotherapy and major surgery were not. Overall, COVID-19 in patients with cancer is marked by substantial rates of hospitalization and severe outcomes. The association observed between ICI and COVID-19 outcomes in our study will need further interrogation in tumor-specific cohorts.
Background: Epidemiologic and biochemical evidence suggest a role of statins and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) as anti-neoplastic agents. This ...study was designed to evaluate the association between the use of these agents and the risk of breast cancer recurrence. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of patients treated for stage II/III breast cancer between 1999 and 2005. Statin and ACE-inhibitors/ARB users were defined as patients who took these medications for at least 6 months in no evidence of disease (NED) stage after the initial diagnosis. The primary outcome was disease-free survival and the secondary was overall survival. The Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard models were used. Results: A total of 703 patients were included. The median and maximal of follow up was 55 and 118 months, respectively. A total of 168 patients used ACE-inhibitors/ARBs, 156 patients used statins, and 81 used both. Univariate analysis showed significant reduction in breast cancer recurrence among patients who used ACE-inhibitors/ARBs (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.37-0.89; p = .013) or statins (HR = 0.43; 95% CI: 0.26-0.70; p < .001). After adjusting for multiple variables, the use of ACE-inhibitors/ARBs (HR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.31-0.76; p = .002) and statins (HR = 0.40; 95% CI: 0.24-0.67; p < .001) remained significant and an additive effect was found on those who used both drugs (HR = 0.30 95% CI: 0.15-0.61; p = .001). No association was found regarding overall survival. Conclusions: The use of ACE-inhibitors/ARBs, statins, and the combination of both were all associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer recurrence. This observation should prompt further exploration.
Abstract Background Atherosclerosis and venous thromboembolism share similar pathophysiology based on common inflammatory mediators. The dose-related effect of statin therapy in venous ...thromboembolism remains controversial. This study investigated whether the use of antiplatelet therapy and statins decrease the occurrence of venous thromboembolism in patients with atherosclerosis. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study reviewing 1795 consecutive patients with atherosclerosis admitted to a teaching hospital between 2005 and 2010. Patients who had been treated with anticoagulation therapy were excluded. Patients who either used statins for <2 months or never used them were allocated to the nonuser group. Results The final analysis included 1100 patients. The overall incidence of venous thromboembolism was 9.7%. Among statin users, 6.3% (54/861) developed venous thromboembolism, compared with 22.2% (53/239) in the nonuser group (hazard ratio HR 0.24; P <.001). After controlling for confounding factors, statin use was still associated with a lower risk of developing venous thromboembolism (HR 0.29; P <.001). High-dose statin use (average 50.9 mg/day) (HR 0.25; P <.001) lowered the risk of venous thromboembolism compared with standard-dose statins (average 22.2 mg/day) (HR 0.38; P <.001). Dual antiplatelet therapy with aspirin and clopidogrel decreased occurrence of venous thromboembolism (HR 0.19; P <.001). Interestingly, combined statins and antiplatelet therapy further reduced the occurrence of venous thromboembolism (HR 0.16; P <.001). Conclusions The use of statins and antiplatelet therapy is associated with a significant reduction in the occurrence of venous thromboembolism with a dose-related response of statins.
Abstract
We examined the prevalence of measles antibody among 12 349 newly hired HCP between 2009 and 2019. Younger HCP were significantly more likely to have no immunity. Compared with a 92.2% ...seropositive rate among 1057 persons hired at age >50 years, only 84.4% of approximately 10 000 HCP aged <40 years had protective antibody.
We used a self-reporting system to compare symptom frequency of hospital personnel with coronavirus disease 2019 before and after the emergence of the Omicron variant. Omicron was more likely to ...result in asymptomatic carriage (7% vs 12%;
= .009), and fewer symptoms were observed in those with booster vaccination.
Abstract
Background
There is limited information on the risk of hospital-acquired coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among high-risk hospitalized patients after exposure to an infected patient or ...healthcare worker (HCW) in a nonoutbreak setting.
Methods
This study was conducted at a tertiary care cancer center in New York City from 10 March 2020 until 28 February 2021. In early April 2020, the study institution implemented universal severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing at admission and retesting every 3 days through the hospital stay. Contact tracing records were reviewed for all exposures to SARS-CoV-2 positive patients and HCWs.
Results
From 10 March 2020 to 28 February 2021, 11 348 unique patients who were SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) negative at the time of admission underwent 31 662 postadmission tests during their hospitalization, and 112 tested positive (0.98%). Among these, 49 patients housed in semiprivate rooms during admission resulted in 74 close contacts and 14 secondary infections within 14 days, for an overall attack rate of 18.9%. Among those exposed to a roommate undergoing an aerosol-generating procedure (AGP), the attack rate was 35.7%. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) corroborated transmission in 6/8 evaluated pairs. In addition, three transmission events occurred in 214 patients with significant exposure to 105 COVID-19 positive healthcare workers (1.4%).
Conclusions
The overall risk of hospital-acquired COVID-19 is low for hospitalized cancer patients, even during periods of high community prevalence. However, shared occupancy with an unrecognized case is associated with a high secondary attack rate in exposed roommates.
There was low risk of hospital-acquired severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in patients after direct contact with infected patients or healthcare workers (HCW). There was greater transmission risk during shared room occupancy with exposure to aerosol-generating procedures. Routine testing is not necessary when community rates are low.
To describe effectiveness of mRNA vaccines by comparing 2-dose (2D) and 3-dose (3D) healthcare worker (HCW) recipients in the setting of Omicron variant dominance. Performance of 2D and 3D vaccine ...series against SARS-CoV-2 variants and the clinical outcomes of HCWs may inform return-to-work guidance.
In a retrospective study from December 15, 2020 to January 15, 2022, SARS-CoV-2 infections among HCWs at a large tertiary cancer centre in New York City were examined to estimate infection rates (aggregated positive tests / person-days) and 95% CIs over the Omicron period in 3D and 2D mRNA vaccinated HCWs and were compared using rate ratios. We described the clinical features of post-vaccine infections and impact of prior (pre-Omicron) COVID infection on vaccine effectiveness.
Among the 20857 HCWs in our cohort, 20,660 completed the 2D series with an mRNA vaccine during our study period and 12461 had received a third dose by January 15, 2022. The infection rate ratio for 3D versus 2D vaccinated HCWs was 0.667 (95% CI 0.623, 0.713) for an estimated 3D vaccine effectiveness of 33.3% compared to two doses only during the Omicron dominant period from December 15, 2021 to January 15, 2022. Breakthrough Omicron infections after 3D + 14 days occurred in 1,315 HCWs. Omicron infections were mild, with 16% of 3D and 11% 2D HCWs being asymptomatic.
Study demonstrates improved vaccine-derived protection against COVID-19 infection in 3D versus 2D mRNA vaccinees during the Omicron surge. The advantage of 3D vaccination was maintained irrespective of prior COVID-19 infection status.
Abstract
Background
Vaccine-induced clinical protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS CoV-2) variants is an evolving target. There are limited genomic level data on ...SARS CoV-2 breakthrough infections and vaccine effectiveness (VE) since the global spread of the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant.
Methods
In a retrospective study from 1 November 2020 to 31 August 2021, divided as pre-Delta and Delta-dominant periods, laboratory-confirmed SARS CoV-2 infections among healthcare personnel (HCP) at a large tertiary cancer center in New York City were examined to compare the weekly infection rate-ratio in vaccinated, partially vaccinated, and unvaccinated HCP. We describe the clinical and genomic epidemiologic features of post-vaccine infections to assess for selection of variants of concern (VOC)/variants of interest (VOI) in the early post-vaccine period and impact of B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant domination on VE.
Results
Among 13658 HCP in our cohort, 12379 received at least 1 dose of a messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine. In the pre-Delta period overall VE was 94.5%. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of 369 isolates in the pre-Delta period did not reveal a clade bias for VOC/VOI specific to post-vaccine infections. VE in the Delta dominant phase was 75.6%. No hospitalizations occurred among vaccinated HCP in the entire study period, compared to 17 hospitalizations and 1 death among unvaccinated HCP.
Conclusions
Findings show high VE among HCP in New York City in the pre-Delta phase, with moderate decline in VE post-Delta emergence. SARS CoV-2 clades were similarly distributed among vaccinated and unvaccinated infected HCP without apparent clustering during the pre-Delta period of diverse clade circulation. Strong vaccine protection against hospitalization was maintained through the entire study period.
study of >13000 healthcare personnel (HCP) showed that messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine effectiveness (VE) against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was 94% through initial 5 months of follow-up, with moderate VE reduction to 75% during subsequent Delta-dominant period. No hospitalizations occurred among vaccinated HCP throughout the study period.
Background: Antimicrobials are frequently administered at end-of-life (EOL) and their non-beneficial use may subject patients to unnecessary harms. Studies analyzing factors for antimicrobial ...prescribing in solid tumor cancer patients at the EOL are lacking. Thus, we aimed to identify factors and patterns associated with antimicrobial use in hospitalized adults with cancer at EOL. Methods: We used a retrospective cohort design to review electronic medical records of terminal hospitalized patients ≥18 years with solid tumors admitted to non-intensive care units in a metropolitan comprehensive cancer center during 2019 and assessed antimicrobial use in the last 7 days of life. Results: Among 633 cancer patients, 59% (n = 376) received antimicrobials (AM+) within the last 7 days of life. AM + patients were older (P = .012), mostly of male gender (55%), and non-Hispanic ethnicity (87%). AM + patients were significantly more likely to have a foreign device, suspected signs of infection, neutropenia, positive blood culture result, documented advance directive; receive laboratory or radiologic testing, and a palliative care or infectious disease consultation (all P < .05). No statistically significant differences were observed in the presence of documented goals of care discussions, or EOL discussions/EOL care orders. Conclusion: Antimicrobial use at the EOL is common in solid tumor cancer patients at the EOL and is associated with increased utilization of invasive interventions. There is an opportunity for infectious disease specialists to build primary palliative care skills and partner with antimicrobial stewardship programs to better advise patients, decision makers, and primary teams on the use of antimicrobials at the EOL.
From 2015 to 2017, 11 confirmed brucellosis cases were reported in New York City, leading to 10
exposure risk events (
events) in 7 clinical laboratories (CLs). Most patients had traveled to ...countries where brucellosis is endemic and presented with histories and findings consistent with brucellosis. CLs were not notified that specimens might yield a hazardous organism, as the clinicians did not consider brucellosis until they were notified that bacteremia with
was suspected. In 3
events, the CLs did not suspect that slow-growing, small Gram-negative bacteria might be harmful. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), which has a limited capacity to identify biological threat agents (BTAs), was used during 4
events, which accounted for 84% of exposures. In 3 of these incidents, initial staining of liquid media showed Gram-positive rods or cocci, including some cocci in chains, suggesting streptococci. Over 200 occupational exposures occurred when the unknown isolates were manipulated and/or tested on open benches, including by procedures that could generate infectious aerosols. During 3
events, the CLs examined and/or manipulated isolates in a biological safety cabinet (BSC); in each CL, the CL had previously isolated
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendations to prevent laboratory-acquired brucellosis (LAB) were followed; no seroconversions or LAB cases occurred. Laboratory assessments were conducted after the
events to identify facility-specific risks and mitigations. With increasing MALDI-TOF MS use, CLs are well-advised to adhere strictly to safe work practices, such as handling and manipulating all slow-growing organisms in BSCs and not using MALDI-TOF MS for identification until BTAs have been ruled out.
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