Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Viral sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 has been used for outbreak investigation, but there is limited evidence supporting routine use for infection prevention and control (IPC) within hospital settings.Methods
We conducted a prospective non-randomised trial of sequencing at 14 acute UK hospital trusts. Sites each had a 4-week baseline data collection period, followed by intervention periods comprising 8 weeks of 'rapid' (<48 hr) and 4 weeks of 'longer-turnaround' (5-10 days) sequencing using a sequence reporting tool (SRT). Data were collected on all hospital-onset COVID-19 infections (HOCIs; detected ≥48 hr from admission). The impact of the sequencing intervention on IPC knowledge and actions, and on the incidence of probable/definite hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), was evaluated.Results
A total of 2170 HOCI cases were recorded from October 2020 to April 2021, corresponding to a period of extreme strain on the health service, with sequence reports returned for 650/1320 (49.2%) during intervention phases. We did not detect a statistically significant change in weekly incidence of HAIs in longer-turnaround (incidence rate ratio 1.60, 95% CI 0.85-3.01; p=0.14) or rapid (0.85, 0.48-1.50; p=0.54) intervention phases compared to baseline phase. However, IPC practice was changed in 7.8 and 7.4% of all HOCI cases in rapid and longer-turnaround phases, respectively, and 17.2 and 11.6% of cases where the report was returned. In a 'per-protocol' sensitivity analysis, there was an impact on IPC actions in 20.7% of HOCI cases when the SRT report was returned within 5 days. Capacity to respond effectively to insights from sequencing was breached in most sites by the volume of cases and limited resources.Conclusions
While we did not demonstrate a direct impact of sequencing on the incidence of nosocomial transmission, our results suggest that sequencing can inform IPC response to HOCIs, particularly when returned within 5 days.Funding
COG-UK is supported by funding from the Medical Research Council (MRC) part of UK Research & Innovation (UKRI), the National Institute of Health Research (NIHR) (grant code: MC_PC_19027), and Genome Research Limited, operating as the Wellcome Sanger Institute.Clinical trial number
NCT04405934.
SUBMITTER: Stirrup O
PROVIDER: S-EPMC9596156 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Sep
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Stirrup Oliver O Blackstone James J Mapp Fiona F MacNeil Alyson A Panca Monica M Holmes Alison A Machin Nicholas N Shin Gee Yen GY Mahungu Tabitha T Saeed Kordo K Saluja Tranprit T Taha Yusri Y Mahida Nikunj N Pope Cassie C Chawla Anu A Cutino-Moguel Maria-Teresa MT Tamuri Asif A Williams Rachel R Darby Alistair A Robertson David L DL Flaviani Flavia F Nastouli Eleni E Robson Samuel S Smith Darren D Loose Matthew M Laing Kenneth K Monahan Irene I Kele Beatrix B Haldenby Sam S George Ryan R Bashton Matthew M Witney Adam A AA Byott Matthew M Coll Francesc F Chapman Michael M Peacock Sharon J SJ Hughes Joseph J Nebbia Gaia G Partridge David G DG Parker Matthew M Price James Richard JR Peters Christine C Roy Sunando S Snell Luke B LB de Silva Thushan I TI Thomson Emma E Flowers Paul P Copas Andrew A Breuer Judith J
eLife 20220913
<h4>Background</h4>Viral sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 has been used for outbreak investigation, but there is limited evidence supporting routine use for infection prevention and control (IPC) within hospital settings.<h4>Methods</h4>We conducted a prospective non-randomised trial of sequencing at 14 acute UK hospital trusts. Sites each had a 4-week baseline data collection period, followed by intervention periods comprising 8 weeks of 'rapid' (<48 hr) and 4 weeks of 'longer-turnaround' (5-10 days) s ...[more]