scispace - formally typeset
Search or ask a question
Author

Katrin Steul

Bio: Katrin Steul is an academic researcher. The author has contributed to research in topics: Population & Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 21 publications receiving 87 citations.

Papers
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Whole-genome sequencing analysis of Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolates from the Frankfurt metropolitan region revealed that 78/94 isolates were MLST type ST117, cgMLST complex type CT71 with a common vanB chromosomal insertion site, indicating circulation of a single VRE clone in a catchment area of 5,000-km2 with 3 million inhabitants.
Abstract: Whole-genome sequencing analysis of Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolates from the Frankfurt metropolitan region revealed that 78/94 isolates were MLST type ST117, cgMLST complex type CT71 with a common vanB chromosomal insertion site. This indicates circulation of a single VRE clone in a catchment area of 5,000-km2 with 3 million inhabitants.

30 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Whether measures from the Hessian HHAP were effective in reducing mortality remains inconclusive since the pre-HHAP heatwave of 2003 differed in certain characteristics (especially the longer duration), leading to the hypothesis that heatwave duration might be a better indicator of mortality during heatwaves, than other characteristics, alone or combined.

27 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: An increase in overall mortality was not observed in Frankfurt as a whole or in the nursing homes in the city specifically, and only individual cases of COVID-19 illnesses occurred in nursing home residents in most homes and the outbreaks in the three homes could be stopped.
Abstract: As of August 30, 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) reported 24,822,800 COVID-19 infections world wide. Severe disease and deaths occur especially in older people with chronic illnesses. Residents of nursing homes are considered to be the most vulnerable group. In this paper, the experiences with COVID-19 in nursing homes in Frankfurt will be presented and discussed. Materials and methods: Based on the data of the statutory reporting obligation, the reported COVID-19 cases are presented and incidences are calculated in different age groups and among residents of nursing homes. Outbreaks in various homes are described in detail based on the documentation from the public health department. Results: By August 28, 2020, 2,665 COVID-19 infections were reported in Frankfurt am Main (incidence 351/100,000 inhabitants), including 116 (4.3%) residents of nursing homes (2,416/100,000 residents). Almost half (39%) of all deaths in Frankfurt (n=69; incidence 9.1/100,000) were among nursing home residents (n=27; incidence 558/100,000 nursing home residents), with 22 of them in just one long-term care facility (LTCF). Compared to previous years, the mortality rate in nursing homes did not increase in the first half of 2020. In one home, 75% of residents tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and 25% died; in two other homes, 6.7% and 14.1% of the residents became infected, and the mortality rate was 0.5% and 1%, resp. In the other 42 homes in the city (3,906 beds), the infection rate remained below 1% and the death rate was 0.1%. Discussion: In many countries, 30-70% of all deaths occur among nursing home residents, including Frankfurt (39%). An increase in overall mortality compared to previous years was not observed in Frankfurt as a whole or in the nursing homes in the city specifically. Due to the measures taken (monitoring of residents and staff, nursing care in protective clothing, prohibition or restriction of visits, physical distancing, isolation of infected people and quarantining of contact persons), only individual cases of COVID-19 illnesses occurred in nursing home residents in most homes and the outbreaks in the three homes could be stopped. We do not recommend regular nontargeted testing in nursing homes, but rather vigilance and the implementation of good hygiene as well as immediate targeted testing if COVID-19 is suspected in residents or staff. In order to mitigate the considerable negative effects of these measures on the residents, a good balance should be sought between infection prevention and the goal of ensuring self-determination and the residents' quality of life.

19 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Using data on hospital admission of patients brought in by the emergency services turned out to be a valid marker for "heat morbidity" and there was a direct correlation between temperature and hospital admissions over the summer days.
Abstract: Heatwaves are gaining in importance due to increasing climatic changes. They can impair health and increase mortality. A comparison of studies is difficult because of differences in the definition of a heatwave used and/or different populations studied. In this study, morbidity data were collected using the web-based IVENA system. This system registers hospital admissions with diagnosis by the emergency medical services. We analysed hospital admissions in Frankfurt/Main during June-August of 2014-2016. These periods included a heatwave in July 2015 (per definition>32°C for at least 5 days/more than 4 days). On days with "heatwave", there was a 22% increase in hospital admissions of patients brought in by the emergency services (excess morbidity). Considering only "heat-related diagnosis", the increase was 300%. In addition to the increase in hospital admissions on "heatwave" days, there was also a direct correlation between temperature and hospital admissions over the summer days. Using the data on hospital admission of patients brought in by the emergency services turned out to be a valid marker for "heat morbidity".

7 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the COVID-19-Pandemie wird haufig unterstellt, dass Kinder Treiber dieser Pandemie sind, und dass beim Auftreten von SARS-CoV-2 in Schulen and Kindertagesstatten ganze Gruppen, Klassen oder the gesamte Einrichtung geschlossen werden musse.
Abstract: Angesichts der COVID-19-Pandemie wird haufig unterstellt, dass Kinder Treiber dieser Pandemie sind, und dass beim Auftreten von SARS-CoV-2 in Schulen und Kindertagesstatten ganze Gruppen, Klassen oder die gesamte Einrichtung geschlossen werden musse. Diesen Fragen wird anhand der Meldedaten in Frankfurt am Main sowie der umfangreichen Testungen der Kontaktpersonen (KP) in Schulen und Kitas nach dem Auftreten eines Indexfalles nachgegangen. Die Meldedaten wurden aus SurvStat entnommen. Die Indexfalle aus Kitas und Schulen wurden isoliert, den KP auf freiwilliger Basis eine PCR-Testung auf SARS-CoV‑2 angeboten – unabhangig davon, ob auf SARS-CoV‑2 hindeutende Symptome aufgetreten waren oder nicht. Die tiefen Nasen‑/Rachenabstriche wurden im Auftrag des Gesundheitsamtes der Stadt Frankfurt am Main durch Rettungsdienste vor Ort entnommen und nach etablierten Standards in 2 akkreditierten Instituten untersucht. Vom Marz bis zum 31.12.2020 wurden in Frankfurt am Main 22.715 COVID-19-Falle gemeldet, darunter 1588 (7,6 %) SARS-CoV-2-Nachweise bei Kindern bis 14 Jahren. Somit wurden bei Kindern bis 14 Jahren etwa halb so viele SARS-CoV-2-Nachweise gemeldet, als es ihrem Anteil an der Bevolkerung entsprochen hatte. Der Anstieg der Inzidenz bei Kindern uber die Wochen folgte zeitlich dem Anstieg der Inzidenz in der Allgemeinbevolkerung; die altersbezogene Inzidenz blieb unter der Inzidenz in der Allgemeinbevolkerung. Von der 35. bis zur 52. Kalenderwoche wurden 274 Indexfalle aus 143 Kitas und 75 Schulen gemeldet. Daraufhin wurden 7915 KP getestet. In Kitas wurde bei 4,5 % der erwachsenen KP und 2,5 % der Kinder-KP, in Schulen bei 0,9 % der Erwachsen-KP und 2,5 % der getesteten Schuler-KP SARS-CoV‑2 nachgewiesen. Pro Indexfall wurde im Mittel deutlich weniger als ein KP positiv getestet. Die Rate positiver Befunde nahm mit steigender Inzidenz in der Gesamtbevolkerung zu. Ein groserer Ausbruch trat nicht auf. Aus der Hohe und dem zeitlichen Ablauf der altersbezogenen Inzidenzen bei den Kindern in Frankfurt am Main ergaben sich keine Hinweise darauf, dass Kinder die „Treiber“ der Pandemie sind. Die untersuchten KP in Schulen und Kitas wurden nur in einem geringen Prozentsatz positiv auf SARS-CoV‑2 getestet. Bei fehlenden Hinweisen auf ein intensives Transmissionsgeschehen in den Einrichtungen kann/sollte der Besuch der KP unter Hygieneauflagen fortgesetzt werden, und es ergibt sich keine Notwendigkeit, ganze Gruppen, Klassen oder gar Einrichtungen zu schliesen.

6 citations


Cited by
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The ways in which animals and human populations are likely to respond to increased extreme heat are described, how to study those responses is suggested, and the importance of those studies for countering the devastating impacts of climate change is reflected.
Abstract: A consequence of climate change is the increased frequency and severity of extreme heat waves. This is occurring now as most of the warmest summers and most intense heat waves ever recorded have been during the past decade. In this review, I describe the ways in which animals and human populations are likely to respond to increased extreme heat, suggest how to study those responses, and reflect on the importance of those studies for countering the devastating impacts of climate change.

221 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Preliminary evidence suggests children are just as likely as adults to become infected with SARS-CoV-2 but are less likely to be symptomatic or develop severe symptoms However, the importance of children in transmitting the virus remains uncertain.
Abstract: Coronaviruses (CoVs) are a large family of enveloped, single-stranded, zoonotic RNA viruses Four CoVs commonly circulate among humans: HCoV2-229E, -HKU1, -NL63 and -OC43 However, CoVs can rapidly mutate and recombine leading to novel CoVs that can spread from animals to humans The novel CoVs severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) emerged in 2002 and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in 2012 The 2019 novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) is currently causing a severe outbreak of disease (termed COVID-19) in China and multiple other countries, threatening to cause a global pandemic In humans, CoVs mostly cause respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms Clinical manifestations range from a common cold to more severe disease such as bronchitis, pneumonia, severe acute respiratory distress syndrome, multi-organ failure and even death SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 seem to less commonly affect children and to cause fewer symptoms and less severe disease in this age group compared with adults, and are associated with much lower case-fatality rates Preliminary evidence suggests children are just as likely as adults to become infected with SARS-CoV-2 but are less likely to be symptomatic or develop severe symptoms However, the importance of children in transmitting the virus remains uncertain Children more often have gastrointestinal symptoms compared with adults Most children with SARS-CoV present with fever, but this is not the case for the other novel CoVs Many children affected by MERS-CoV are asymptomatic The majority of children infected by novel CoVs have a documented household contact, often showing symptoms before them In contrast, adults more often have a nosocomial exposure In this review, we summarize epidemiologic, clinical and diagnostic findings, as well as treatment and prevention options for common circulating and novel CoVs infections in humans with a focus on infections in children

118 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, a rapid narrative review investigating strategies that have prevented or mitigated SARS-CoV-2 transmission in long-term care is presented, with the authors aiming to provide synthesized evidence to support policy decision making.

60 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that it is necessary to monitor and disinfect the SARS-CoV-2 in hospital environment during COVID-19 pandemic, and will help to prevent the iatrogenic infection and nosocomial transmission of Sars-Cov-2 and to better protect the HCWs.

52 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Investigation of occurrence and characteristics of ESKAPE bacteria in water samples of different processing stages of two German pig slaughterhouses as well as their municipal wastewater treatment plants found municipal WWTPs seem to fail to eliminate these bacteria leading to a discharge into the preflooder and a subsequent dissemination into the surface water.

49 citations