Decreased incidence of enterovirus and norovirus infections during the COVID-19 pandemic, Victoria, Australia, 2020

Bruggink, Leesa D.; Garcia-Clapes, Arnau; Tran, Thomas; Druce, Julian; Thorley, Bruce R

doi:10.33321/cdi.2021.45.5

Cited by 46 publications

(55 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…The substantial decline of norovirus in 2020 from an historical baseline rate in Pre-COVID-19 was observed, which aligned with results from England, Germany, Australia and the United States [ 13 , [26] , [27] , [28] ]. Our results also extended the available finding by showing that rotavirus A, adenovirus, and DEC were likewise reduced for their activity in 2020.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

The changing pattern of enteric pathogen infections in China during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nation-wide observational study

Wang

Han

Zhou

et al. 2021

The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific

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Background Non pharmaceutical interventions (NPI) including hand washing directives were implemented in China and worldwide to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, which are likely to have had impacted a broad spectrum of enteric pathogen infections. Methods Etiologically diagnostic data from 45 937 and 67 395 patients with acute diarrhea between 2012 and 2020, who were tested for seven viral pathogens and 13 bacteria respectively, were analyzed to assess the changes of enteric pathogen infections in China during the first COVID-19 pandemic year compared to pre-pandemic years. Findings Test positive rates of all enteric viruses decreased during 2020, compared to the average levels during 2012−2019, with a relative decrease of 71•75% for adenovirus, 58•76% for norovirus, 53•50% for rotavirus A, and 72•07% for the combination of other four uncommon viruses. In general, a larger reduction of positive rate in viruses was seen among adults than pediatric patients. A rebound of rotavirus A was seen after September 2020 in North China rather than South China. Test positive rates of bacteria decreased during 2020, compared to the average levels during 2012−2019, excepting for nontyphoidal Salmonella and Campylobacter coli with 66•53% and 90•48% increase respectively. This increase was larger for pediatric patients than for adult patients. Interpretation The activity of enteric pathogens changed profoundly alongside the NPIs implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. Greater reductions of the test positive rates were found for almost all enteric viruses than for bacteria among acute diarrhea patients, with further large differences by age and geography. Lifting of NPIs will lead to resurgence of enteric pathogen infections, particularly in children whose immunity may not have been developed and/or waned. Funding China Mega-Project on Infectious Disease Prevention; National Natural Science Funds.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 74%

The changing pattern of enteric pathogen infections in China during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nation-wide observational study

Wang

Han

Zhou

et al. 2021

The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific

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“…This reduction in ondansetron dispensing may be related to fewer cases of infective gastroenteritis reported in Australia in 2020 compared to preceding years, likely secondary to COVID-19-related social distancing measures. [36] , [37] , [38] …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in systemic cancer therapy in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based study

Tang

Daniels

Aslam

et al. 2021

The Lancet Regional Health - Western Pacific

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Background Since the emergence of COVID-19 there have been increasing global concerns about delays and/or discontinuations in cancer care. However, it is unclear to what extent systemic cancer therapy was impacted by COVID-19 in countries with relatively low COVID-19 infection rates. We examined changes in systemic cancer therapy in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We conducted a national observational study using de-identified records of government-subsidised cancer medicines dispensed to a random 10% sample of Australians between January 2017 to December 2020. We reported monthly dispensing and initiation rates of antineoplastic (chemo-, immuno- and targeted therapy), endocrine and supportive medicines per 100,000 population. We reported monthly discontinuation rates (defined as ≥90 days gap between cancer medicine dispensings) per 1,000 people treated. We used interrupted time series analysis to examine changes during times of increased COVID-19 risk and related public health measures (March, April and July 2020). Findings Between January 2017 and December 2020, 1,011,255 cancer medicines were dispensed to 51,515 people. Overall, there were no reductions in antineoplastic dispensing or initiation during the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, we observed a temporary increase of 39/100,000 (95% CI: 14 to 65/100,000) in antineoplastic dispensing, driven by immunotherapy and targeted therapy. In April 2020, we observed a temporary decrease in chemotherapy initiation (-2/100,000, 95% CI: -4 to -1/100,000) and temporary increase in discontinuation of all antineoplastic medicines (35/1,000, 95% CI: 20 to 51/1,000), but these changes were not sustained. Interpretation The effective control of COVID-19 in Australia appears to have mitigated the initial impact of COVID-19 on systemic cancer therapy. We observed only small and temporary changes in the use of some cancer medicines early in the pandemic. Funding National Health and Medical Research Council; National Breast Cancer Foundation; Translational Cancer Research Network, supported by the Cancer Institute NSW.

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“…Eigner et al reported a sharp decrease in the proportion of hospitalized patients in Germany positive for norovirus (less than 1.0%) [ 5 ]. Similarly, the number of norovirus associated outbreaks dramatically declined in Australia after the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020 compared with previous years [ 6 ]. Outbreaks of norovirus in the USA have also been curtailed post COVID-19 as reported by Kraay et al in a nine-state surveillance system [ 7 ] as well as an analysis of pre- and post-COVID-19 outbreaks using data from the CDC NORS [ 8 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reduction in Sporadic Norovirus Infections Following the Start of the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2019–2020, Philadelphia

Nachamkin

Richard-Greenblatt

et al. 2021

Infect Dis Ther

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Introduction Norovirus infections are common in the USA and worldwide. Detection of norovirus in fecal samples is now common in routine tests for enteric pathogens using molecular methods. We observed a change in positivity rates for norovirus after the beginning of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in our laboratory and performed a more detailed analysis of testing results. Methods We reviewed the positivity rates for detection of common enteric pathogens from stool samples submitted to an academic medical center laboratory pre (2016–2019) and post the start of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020). Results In contrast to other enteric pathogens, norovirus positivity rates dropped dramatically from a yearly average of 3.9% in 2016–2019 to 0.76% from March 2020 through the end of 2020. Conclusion A sustained reduction in norovirus positivity rates was temporally associated with COVID-19 mitigation processes in the Philadelphia area, while positivity rates for other common enteric pathogens were only intermittently reduced.

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Decreased incidence of enterovirus and norovirus infections during the COVID-19 pandemic, Victoria, Australia, 2020

Cited by 46 publications

References 12 publications

The changing pattern of enteric pathogen infections in China during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nation-wide observational study

The changing pattern of enteric pathogen infections in China during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nation-wide observational study

Changes in systemic cancer therapy in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic: a population-based study

Reduction in Sporadic Norovirus Infections Following the Start of the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2019–2020, Philadelphia

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