Variations in respiratory pathogen carriage among a homeless population in a shelter for men in Marseille, France, March–July 2020: cross-sectional 1-day surveys

Abstract

We aimed to compare respiratory pathogen carriage by PCR during three different time periods in 2020 in sheltered homeless people in Marseille, France. The overall prevalence of respiratory pathogen carriage in late March–early April (69.9%) was significantly higher than in late April (42.3%) and mid-July (45.1%). Bacterial carriage significantly decreased between late March–early April and late April. SARS-CoV-2 was detected only in late March–early April samples (20.6%). Measures aiming at mitigating SARS-CoV-2 transmission were effective and also impacted bacterial carriage. Seasonal variations of bacterial carriage between winter and summer in this population were not marked. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10096-020-04127-9.

A Scoping Review of the Health Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Persons Experiencing Homelessness in North America and Europe

“…A number of included studies reported infection attack rates of SARS-CoV-2 among study participants: 29 studies measured positivity rates (i.e., current infection) [ 13 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 , 59 , 60 ], seven measured seroprevalence (i.e., prevalence of antibodies for SARS-CoV-2, indicating historic infection) [ 61 , 62 , 63 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 ], and four measured both positivity and seroprevalence rates [ 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 ]. Additionally, data regarding SARS-CoV-2 symptoms reported by study participants were provided by 32 articles [ 7 , 8 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 , 38 , 42 , 45 , 46 , …”

“…Among studies that measured positivity rates, 13 included testing of participants in response to an outbreak [ 34 , 36 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 48 , 50 , 55 , 56 , 68 ]. In addition, surveillance testing (i.e., testing not prompted by a confirmed or suspected outbreak) was conducted for all participants regardless of symptoms in 16 studies [ 33 , 35 , 36 , 38 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 46 , 47 , 52 , 58 , 69 , 70 , 71 ]. Of these, six reported that routine surveillance testing occurred regularly [ 35 , 41 , 44 , 52 , 58 ].…”

“…One study by Jatt et al [ 36 ] described how testing progressed from only symptomatic individuals and close contacts to outbreak testing and finally to routine surveillance testing from 11 March to 29 April 2020 in a large healthcare facility in Los Angeles. Of the 33 studies that measured infection rates, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were the most commonly reported tests used for diagnosis ( n = 24) [ 34 , 36 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 56 , 58 , 60 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 77 ]. Other measures included self-reported positive test results ( n = 3) [ 13 , 59 , 70 ], antigen testing ( n = 1) [ 35 ], and assays ( n = 1) [ 33 ].…”

“…Isolation or quarantine accommodation for PEH who were symptomatic, confirmed cases was noted in 44 articles. Of these, the majority reported that access to temporary facilities to safely isolate or quarantine was provided [ 34 , 35 , 36 , 39 , 40 , 42 , 43 , 45 , 47 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 69 , 72 , 74 , 75 , 80 , 94 , 97 , 98 , 99 , 101 , 107 ], with 15 specifically describing hotels converted for this purpose [ 12 , 21 , 33 , 40 , 41 , 46 , 53 , 58 , 73 , 86 , 99 , 100 , 106 , 108 , 109 ]. Fuchs et al [ 53 ] found that premature discontinuation of hotel isolation or quarantine was associated with experiencing unsheltered homelessness and requiring quarantine as a close contact.…”

SARS-Cov-2 prevalence, transmission, health-related outcomes and control strategies in homeless shelters: Systematic review and meta-analysis

“…19 quantitative studies were conducted in the USA [23À41], three in Canada [42À44],three in France [16,45,46], two in Italy [47,48], and one in Belgium [49], Spain [50], Slovakia [51], and Denmark [52], respectively. The data collection period considering all studies ranged from January 2020 to October 2020.…”