INSTITUTIONAL CONTACT RATES AS A DRIVER OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES

Stephanie Sikavitsas Johnson

doi:10.7273/000006590

For many infectious diseases, pathogen transmission requires close contact between infectious and susceptible hosts. Contact rates- the number of close contacts per infected individual- are influenced by demographics, behaviors, and contextual elements such as occupation and cultural practices. Workplaces are significant areas for disease transmission, due to frequent interactions among employees or between them and their clients. Moreover, cultural norms within workplaces can shape contact patterns, further influencing disease spread. Context-specific data enables a comprehensive understanding of contact rates and networks, facilitating targeted interventions. Amid COVID-19, university policies altered attendance rules, prompting our investigation into policy impacts on employee social contacts. Participants, consisting of university employees, engaged in two surveys conducted during periods of virtual and in-person classes. Results revealed a notable increase in contacts from the first to the second survey (median of 3 contacts to 7), accompanied by a shift from family members towards interactions with strangers and students. Such findings emphasize the importance of considering employees in pandemic planning efforts and implementing targeted precautionary measures. We created a simulation-based study that explored how staffing levels affect methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) acquisition in intensive care units (ICUs). Utilizing compartmental modeling, scenarios with infinite and finite workload conceptualizations and differing nurse-to-patient ratios and intensivist staffing levels were explored. Under baseline conditions, our model had a median of 8.2 MRSA acquisitions per year. The large differential in MRSA acquisition dependent on workload conceptualization underscores the need for tailored staffing strategies in hospital infection control. Veterinary hospitals present unique challenges in managing infectious diseases, particularly due to elevated risks of zoonotic infections among veterinary staff. We created a direct observation pilot study to assess time use and activity patterns among different staff types and departments within a veterinary teaching hospital. Analysis of 12,079 tasks highlighted significant variations between staff types and departments, underscoring the necessity for tailored occupational health interventions. This research highlights the crucial role of institutional policies in shaping contact patterns and disease transmission, especially in workplaces. By combining surveys, models, and observations, researchers can gauge policy impacts and devise effective infection prevention strategies.

INSTITUTIONAL CONTACT RATES AS A DRIVER OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES

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