Concurrent Administration of COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccines Enhances Spike-Specific Antibody Responses

Background

The bivalent COVID-19 mRNA boosters became available in fall 2022 and were recommended alongside the seasonal influenza vaccine. However, the immunogenicity of concurrent vs separate administration of these vaccines remains unclear.

Methods

Here, we analyzed antibody responses in health care workers who received the bivalent COVID-19 booster and the influenza vaccine on the same day or on different days through systems serology. Antibody-binding and functional responses were characterized at peak responses and after 6 months following vaccination.

Results

IgG1 and neutralization responses to SARS-CoV-2 XBB.1.5 were higher at peak and after 6 months following concurrent administration as compared with separate administration of the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines. While similar results were not observed for influenza responses, no interference was noted with concurrent administration.

Conclusions

These data suggest that concurrent administration of these vaccines may yield higher and more durable SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody responses while maintaining responses against influenza.

Compartment-Specific Antibody Correlates of Protection to SARS-CoV-2 Omicron in Macaques

Antibodies represent a primary mediator of protection against respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. Serum neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) are often considered a primary correlate of protection. However, detailed antibody profiles including characterization of antibody functions in different anatomic compartments are not well understood. Here we show that antibody correlates of protection against SARS-CoV-2 challenge are different in systemic versus mucosal compartments in rhesus macaques. In serum, neutralizing antibodies were the strongest correlate of protection and were linked to Spike-specific binding antibodies and other extra-neutralizing antibody functions that create a larger protective network. In contrast, in bronchiolar lavage (BAL), antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis (ADCP) proved the strongest correlate of protection rather than NAbs. Within BAL, ADCP was linked to mucosal Spike-specific IgG, IgA/secretory IgA, and Fcγ-receptor binding antibodies. Our results support a model in which antibodies with different functions mediate protection at different anatomic sites. The correlation of ADCP and other Fc functional antibody responses with protection in BAL suggests that these antibody responses may be critical for protection against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron challenge in mucosa.

Concurrent administration of COVID-19 and influenza vaccines enhances Spike-specific antibody responses

The bivalent COVID-19 mRNA boosters became available in fall 2022 and were recommended alongside the seasonal influenza vaccine. However, the immunogenicity of concurrent versus separate administration of these vaccines remains unclear. Here, we analyzed antibody responses in healthcare workers who received the bivalent COVID-19 booster and the influenza vaccine on the same day or different days. IgG1 responses to SARS-CoV-2 Spike were higher at peak immunogenicity and 6 months following concurrent administration compared with separate administration of the COVID-19 and influenza vaccines. These data suggest that concurrent administration of these vaccines may yield higher and more durable SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses.

Biogel Reveal: a puncture indication system from Regent Medical

Gloves provide an essential barrier against contamination and are an important item of personal protective equipment. Gloves used in clinical practice do leak although there is no direct evidence that such leaks result in transmission of infection. Double-gloving is recommended in theatre as a means of reducing hand injury during surgical procedures. Biogel Reveal is a double-glove puncture indication system that shows punctures as a visible green colour when damaged.

Managing and maintaining a safe environment in the hospital setting

On entering hospital, patients and visitors assume that they are in a safe environment. Maintaining a safe environment in hospitals depends on not only the infrastructure, but also the equipment and materials that are used on the premises. Complaints about hospitals often include comments on the environment, its lack of cleanliness, poor food and the general look of debilitation. Key legislation for managing a safe environment is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Complementary guidance includes the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 1999 and the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The Incorporation of such legislation into local policies and guidelines ensures that healthcare staff can set standards to maintain the integrity of the patient's environment. This article will consider aspects of hospital life involved in maintaining a safe environment.

Current recommendations for isolation practices in nursing

Attitudes have changed drastically over the centuries towards people with infections and how to contain them. Only as we approach the end of the 20th century are we starting to base our practices on scientific evidence and not on ritual, although rational thought is still not found in many practices and confusion surrounds the terminology used. With the introduction of clinical governance, and the statutory duty of health organizations to provide a quality service for patients supported by evidence-based practice, this article discusses isolation practices.

Importance of handwashing in the prevention of cross-infection

Although the importance of handwashing is routinely acknowledged, a religious application of this practice still does not exist. Discussion in modern medicine on the subject of handwashing always states that it is the single most important factor in preventing hospital-acquired infection. This article continues the series on infection control and practical procedures by looking at the evidence that supports the above statement and discusses various handwashing methods and how to increase compliance to handwashing in the healthcare setting.

Urinary catheter management: minimizing the risk of infection

With catheterization comes the risk of infection and therefore people should not be catheterized unless their clinical condition dictates that it is absolutely necessary. Nurses are responsible for both inserting catheters and the subsequent management of the catheterized patient. A high level of nursing knowledge and skill is required to achieve effective and safe management. This article continues the infection control series by reviewing the principles of catheter management with regard to controlling infection.

Infection control. 1: A practical guide to glove usage

With increased demands from the general public for healthcare professionals to be accountable for their actions, many are becoming familiar with clinical governance and other initiatives to improve clinical practice. Good infection control is central to nursing practice. To achieve higher standards of clinical practice, especially when thinking about how to reduce the risk of cross-infection, it is necessary to not only do the right thing, but also do the thing right. Safe practice should be uppermost in the minds of healthcare professionals when caring for patients. This new series of articles attempts to look at the practical aspects of infection control, highlighting the requirements for risk assessment and applying the principles of infection control to a variety of patient care situations. This article investigates the use of protective clothing and gloves. It looks at the types of gloves available for use, the importance of choosing the correct glove for the task to be undertaken, and the modern day problems of allergies to latex.

Emergency department evaluation of geriatric patients with acute cholecystitis

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the frequency of abnormal clinical symptoms, laboratory tests, and diagnostic imaging studies in the ED assessment of elderly (> or = 65 yr) patients with acute cholecystitis, and to compare these factors in young-old (65-74 yr), middle-old (75-84 yr), and old-old (> or = 85 yr) population groups.

METHODS

A retrospective, cross-sectional study was performed by review of ED records, hospital charts, and surgical operative reports of consecutive elderly ED patients determined at surgery to have acute cholecystitis. Records were reviewed between April 1990 and April 1995 at a large Midwestern tertiary care facility with 65,000 annual ED patient visits. Clinical signs and symptoms were compared in the young-old, middle-old, and old-old population groups.

RESULTS

Of the 168 patients reviewed, 141 (84%) had neither epigastric or right upper quadrant abdominal pain, and 8 (5%) had no pain whatsoever. Only 61 patients (36%) had back or flank pain radiation. Ninety-six (57%) experienced nausea, 64 (38%) had emesis, and 13 (8%) had visible jaundice. Ninety-four (56%) patients were afebrile and 69 (41%) had no increase of white blood cell count. Twenty-two (13%) patients had no fever and all tests were normal. No statistical difference was noted in any symptom or laboratory factor for the 3 age groups, except jaundice was more common among the patients aged > or = 85 years. Ultrasonography was diagnostic for 91%, and CT was beneficial for only 1 patient. Eight patients had normal results on their ultrasonographic and CT studies.

CONCLUSION

Classic symptoms and abnormal blood test results are frequently not present in geriatric patients with acute cholecystitis. Increasing age does not appear to affect the clinical and test markers used by clinicians to diagnose this illness. A high degree of awareness is essential for correct diagnosis of acute cholecystitis in geriatric patients.

Transition Element-Like Chemistry for Potassium Under Pressure

At high pressure the alkali metals potassium, rubidium, and cesium transform to metals that have a d1 electron configuration, becoming transition metal-like. As a result, compounds were shown to form between potassium and the transition metal nickel. These results demonstrate that the chemical behavior of the alkali metals under pressure is very different from that under ambient conditions, where alkali metals and transition metals do not react because of large differences in size and electronic structure. They also have significant implications for the hypothesis that potassium is incorporated into Earth's core.