PRP063: COVID-19 Transmission Dynamics and Life Cycle at a Long-Term Care Facility in West Virginia
Amie Ashcraft, PhD, MPH, PhD, MPH; Shauna Assadzandi, MD
Abstract
Objective:
Our goal was to address critical gaps in knowledge by examining the transmission dynamics and life cycle of COVID-19 within residents, staff, and their family members at a long-term care facility (LTCF) in West Virginia that was purported to be “ground zero” for the local epidemic. We are (1) assessing relationship between resident and staff characteristics and the duration of SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding as detected by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR or “PCR” for short) and (2) conducting antibody serology testing (IgG and IgM) on LTCF residents, staff, and their family members to (a) determine the incidence of a detectable humoral immune response in those with previously documented infection, (b) identify the relationship between immune response and individual/disease characteristics, and (c) determine the incidence of a detectable immune response in those without previously known infection.
Study design:
Residents and staff with initial positive diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2 will undergo repeat diagnostic testing and quantitative viral load by polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR or “PCR” for short) of nasopharyngeal swab collections at 2 weeks post initial positive test and then weekly until testing is negative. Next, all residents, staff, and selected family members will undergo blood collection for antibody serology testing (IgG and IgM) four to six weeks after last positive PCR test. In addition to blood collection for antibody serology test, we will also collect data on participant characteristics, including age, current medications, and comorbid conditions along with any Covid-19 disease symptoms, their severity, and progression.
Results:
This research is currently in progress. Descriptive summaries and prevalence estimates will be assessed using frequencies, proportions, means, and standard deviation. Linear regression will be used to assess associations of resident and disease characteristics on length of viral shedding and antibody testing. Significant differences will be considered based on p-values less than < 0.05.
Our goal was to address critical gaps in knowledge by examining the transmission dynamics and life cycle of COVID-19 within residents, staff, and their family members at a long-term care facility (LTCF) in West Virginia that was purported to be “ground zero” for the local epidemic. We are (1) assessing relationship between resident and staff characteristics and the duration of SARS-CoV-2 viral shedding as detected by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR or “PCR” for short) and (2) conducting antibody serology testing (IgG and IgM) on LTCF residents, staff, and their family members to (a) determine the incidence of a detectable humoral immune response in those with previously documented infection, (b) identify the relationship between immune response and individual/disease characteristics, and (c) determine the incidence of a detectable immune response in those without previously known infection.
Study design:
Residents and staff with initial positive diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2 will undergo repeat diagnostic testing and quantitative viral load by polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR or “PCR” for short) of nasopharyngeal swab collections at 2 weeks post initial positive test and then weekly until testing is negative. Next, all residents, staff, and selected family members will undergo blood collection for antibody serology testing (IgG and IgM) four to six weeks after last positive PCR test. In addition to blood collection for antibody serology test, we will also collect data on participant characteristics, including age, current medications, and comorbid conditions along with any Covid-19 disease symptoms, their severity, and progression.
Results:
This research is currently in progress. Descriptive summaries and prevalence estimates will be assessed using frequencies, proportions, means, and standard deviation. Linear regression will be used to assess associations of resident and disease characteristics on length of viral shedding and antibody testing. Significant differences will be considered based on p-values less than < 0.05.