No abstract

This study describes the development of a pilot sentinel school absence syndromic surveillance system. Using data from a sample of schools in England the capability of this system to monitor the impact of disease on school absences in school-aged children is shown, using the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic period as an example. Data were obtained from an online app service used by schools and parents to report their children absent, including reasons/symptoms relating to absence. For 2019 and 2020, data were aggregated into daily counts of ‘total’ and ‘cough’ absence reports. There was a large increase in the number of absence reports in March 2020 compared to March 2019, corresponding to the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in England. Absence numbers then fell rapidly and remained low from late March 2020 until August 2020, while lockdown was in place in England. Compared to 2019, there was a large increase in the number of absence reports in September 2020 when schools re-opened in England, although the peak number of absences was smaller than in March 2020. This information can help provide context around the absence levels in schools associated with COVID-19. Also, the system has the potential for further development to monitor the impact of other conditions on school absence, e.g. gastrointestinal infections.

No abstract

Ø Alemtuzumab -anti CD52 antibody -a potent lymphocyte depleting induction agent. It allows steroid avoidance which can be particularly favourable for Simultaneous Pancreas and Kidney (SPK) transplants. Ø From March 2008 onwards -we introduced Alemtuzumab based regime for all our SPK patients (30 mgs subcutaneous on induction and 30 mgs 24-36 hours post transplant) followed by immunosuppression regime of Tacrolimus and MMF (from day 7) alone and No steroid. Ø Prior to this, we used Basiliximab for induction (20 mgs intravenous on induction and on day 4) followed by a triple maintenance immunosuppression regime (CNI, MMF and steroids). Ø We aimed to compare the 2 different regimes and assess long term outcomes.Ø Despite a longer follow up period, patients receiving Basiliximab induction appear to have comparable rates of patient and graft survival.Ø There appeared to be an increasing trend for kidney graft survival in the Basiliximab group.Ø A retrospective analysis - (2003 -2015) Ø Information was gathered using electronic records and patient notes. Ø Data was analysed using Microsoft Excel 2011 and SPSS 23. Ø Fischer exact test was used to compare the groups. Ø Kaplan Meier curves and survival estimates were calculated.