SARS-CoV-2 risk factors among symptomatic vaccinated adults attending community testing locations in the Netherlands from June 2021 till February 2022.

Introduction: Most studies on risk factors for a SARS-CoV-2 infection were conducted in the pre-vaccination era with many non-pharmaceutical prevention measures in place. We investigated risk factors for symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections in vaccinated persons in a period with a varying degree of prevention measures.

Methods: In a test-negative case control study among vaccinated adults attending community COVID-19 testing locations between June 1st 2021 till February 28th 2022, we compared symptomatic cases with symptomatic controls (to study risk factors specific for SARS-CoV-2) and with asymptomatic controls (to study risk factors that could apply to respiratory infections in general).

Differences in eHealth Access, Use, and Perceived Benefit Between Different Socioeconomic Groups in the Dutch Context: Secondary Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: There is a growing concern that digital health care may exacerbate existing health disparities. Digital health care or eHealth encompasses the digital apps that are used in health care. Differences in access, use, and perceived benefits of digital technology among socioeconomic groups are commonly referred to as the digital divide.

Vaccination Coverage for Medically Indicated Vaccines in a Convenience Sample of Severely Immunocompromised Patients with COVID-19: An Observational Cohort Study.

Background: In recent decades, the number of immunocompromised patients (ICPs) has increased significantly. ICPs have an impaired immune system, making them susceptible to complicated infections. To protect them from infections, ICPs are eligible to receive several medically indicated vaccines.

Barriers and missed opportunities in PrEP uptake, use and care among men who have sex with men with recent HIV infection in the Netherlands.

Introduction: Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) prevents Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) acquisition. In the Netherlands, PrEP is accessible through the national PrEP program (NPP) or general practitioners (GP). Still, some men who have sex with men (MSM) entering HIV care indicated having PrEP experience prior to diagnosis.

High SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels after three consecutive BNT162b2 booster vaccine doses in nursing home residents.

Background: As older age and having certain comorbidities can influence humoral responses to vaccination, we studied antibody responses after the COVID-19 booster campaigns in nursing home (NH) residents.

Methods: In a two year longitudinal study with Dutch NH residents (n = 107), aged 50 years and over, we monitored antibody responses in serum prior to and after vaccination with a third, fourth BNT162b2 (wild-type; WT), and a BNT162b2 bivalent (WT/OMI BA.1) fifth vaccine.

The performance of a lateral flow SARS-CoV-2 antibody assay and semi-autonomous SARS-CoV-2 antisense and sense RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization assay in a prospective cohort pilot study within a Dutch military population.

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, diagnostic testing was not accessible for mildly ill or asymptomatic individuals. Military operational circumstances exclude the usage of reference laboratory tests. For that reason, at the beginning of the pandemic alternative test methods were needed in order to gain insight into the SARS-CoV-2 status of military personnel.

The social costs of pesticides: a meta-analysis of the experimental and stated preference literature.

Pesticide use poses major public health risks and raises environmental concerns globally. We synthesize three decades of stated preferences and experimental approaches that estimate the social costs of pesticide use through consumer and farmer willingness-to-pay (WTP) to prevent or reduce the risks involved. We contribute to the existing literature by demonstrating that the social costs of pesticides vary significantly depending on risk types and levels, where they occur, who is exposed and their risk aversion.

Psychosocial and cognitive determinants of 10-year depressive symptom trajectories in patients with cardiovascular disease: The SMART-Medea Study.

Background: Middle-aged and older adults presenting clinically relevant depressive symptoms are often undiagnosed. Understanding the determinants of late-life depressive symptoms could improve prognosis. Further, individuals with manifest cardiovascular disease (CVD) are at an increased risk of depression.

Innate immune response after BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccination associates with reactogenicity.

Background: The innate immune response is important for the development of the specific adaptive immunity, however it may also be associated with reactogenicity after vaccination. We explore the association between innate responsiveness, reactogenicity, and antibody response after first COVID-19 vaccination.

Methods: We included 146 healthy Dutch individuals aged 12-59 who received their first BNT162b2 (Comirnaty, Pfizer) COVID-19 vaccination.

Assessing COVID-19 transmission through school and family networks using population-level registry data from the Netherlands.

Understanding the impact of different types of social interactions is key to improving epidemic models. Here, we use extensive registry data-including PCR test results and population-level networks-to investigate the impact of school, family, and other social contacts on SARS-CoV-2 transmission in the Netherlands (June 2020-October 2021). We isolate and compare different contexts of potential SARS-CoV-2 transmission by matching pairs of students based on their attendance at the same or different primary school (in 2020) and secondary school (in 2021) and their geographic proximity.

Factors associated with patients' demand for low-value care: a scoping review.

Background: Low-value care is unnecessary care that contributes to inefficient use of health resources and constitutes a considerable proportion of healthcare expenditures worldwide. Factors contributing to patients' demand for low-value care have often been overlooked and are dispersed in the literature. Therefore, the current study aimed to systematically summarize factors associated with patients' demand for low-value care.

Reusing routine electronic health record data for nationwide COVID-19 surveillance in nursing homes: barriers, facilitators, and lessons learned.

Background: At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, little was known about the spread of COVID-19 in Dutch nursing homes while older people were particularly at risk of severe symptoms. Therefore, attempts were made to develop a nationwide COVID-19 repository based on routinely recorded data in the electronic health records (EHRs) of nursing home residents. This study aims to describe the facilitators and barriers encountered during the development of the repository and the lessons learned regarding the reuse of EHR data for surveillance and research purposes.

Evaluation of Neonatal Screening Programs for Tyrosinemia Type 1 Worldwide.

In The Netherlands, newborn screening (NBS) for tyrosinemia type 1 (TT1) uses dried blood spot (DBS) succinylacetone (SUAC) as a biomarker. However, high false-positive (FP) rates and a false-negative (FN) case show that the Dutch TT1 NBS protocol is suboptimal. In search of optimization options, we evaluated the protocols used by other NBS programs and their performance.

Decay Rates of Maternal Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis Antibody Levels in Early and Moderate-to-Late Preterm and Term Infants at Birth and at Two Months.

A post hoc analysis of maternally derived antibodies at birth and age 2 months following second trimester maternal Tdap vaccination between 20 and 24 weeks' gestational age (GA) showed a faster decay rate of Tdap-related immunoglobulin G in early preterms born before 32 weeks' GA compared with moderate-to-late preterms and full-terms. This is different from previous studies and merits further research.

Automated surveillance for surgical site infections (SSI) in hospitals and surveillance networks-expert perspectives for implementation.

Background: This work aims at providing practical recommendations for implementing automated surveillance (AS) of surgical site infections (SSI) in hospitals and surveillance networks. It also provides an overview of the steps, choices, and obstacles that need to be taken into consideration when implementing such surveillance. Hands-on experience with existing automated surveillance systems of SSI (AS SSI systems) in Denmark, France, the Netherlands and Spain is described regarding trend monitoring, benchmarking, quality control, and research for surveillance purposes.

Nosocomial transmission of NDM-1-containing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST147 in a Dutch pediatric oncology center associated with patients from Ukraine.

We studied nosocomial transmission of multidrug-resistant bla-containing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST147 in a Dutch pediatric oncology center. Whole-genome multilocus sequence typing revealed two genetic clusters consisting of 2 and 5 K. pneumoniae isolates, both from Ukrainian medical evacuees and Dutch patients.

From the 100 Day Mission to 100 lines of software development: how to improve early outbreak analytics.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, considerable advances have been made to improve epidemic preparedness by accelerating diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccine development. However, we argue that it is crucial to make equivalent efforts in the field of outbreak analytics to help ensure reliable, evidence-based decision making. To explore the challenges and key priorities in the field of outbreak analytics, the Epiverse-TRACE initiative brought together a multidisciplinary group of experts, including field epidemiologists, data scientists, academics, and software engineers from public health institutions across multiple countries.

Candida auris in Dutch hospitals: are we ready for it?

Background: Candida auris can cause nosocomial outbreaks and provides challenges concerning diagnosis, treatment, eradication and infection prevention. There are no Dutch standards or guidelines for C. auris, and current hospital practices are unknown.

Regulatory preparedness for multicomponent nanomaterials: Current state, gaps and challenges of REACH.

In 2018 the European Commission adopted revisions to the Annexes of Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 concerning registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction of chemicals (REACH) to introduce nanomaterial-specific clarifications and provisions. Multicomponent nanomaterial (MCNM) is a non-regulatory term that has been used in recent EU-funded projects to describe nanomaterials with a complex structure and/or composition and which are expected to be increasingly used in products in the near future. This paper examines the regulatory preparedness of REACH, and its revised Annexes, for MCNMs.

Global impact of ten-valent and 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccines on invasive pneumococcal disease in all ages (the PSERENADE project): a global surveillance analysis.

Background: Pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCVs) that are ten-valent (PCV10) and 13-valent (PCV13) became available in 2010. We evaluated their global impact on invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) incidence in all ages.

Methods: Serotype-specific IPD cases and population denominators were obtained directly from surveillance sites using PCV10 or PCV13 in their national immunisation programmes and with a primary series uptake of at least 50%.

Comparative assessment of airborne infection risk tools in enclosed spaces: Implications for disease control.

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, highlighted the importance of understanding transmission modes and implementing effective mitigation strategies. Recognizing airborne transmission as a primary route has reshaped public health measures, emphasizing the need to optimize indoor environments to reduce risks. Numerous tools have emerged to assess airborne infection risks in enclosed spaces, providing valuable resources for public health authorities, researchers, and the general public.

HGVS Nomenclature 2024: improvements to community engagement, usability, and computability.

Background: The Human Genome Variation Society (HGVS) Nomenclature is the global standard for describing and communicating variants in DNA, RNA, and protein sequences in clinical and research genomics. This manuscript details recent updates to the HGVS Nomenclature, highlighting improvements in governance, community engagement, website functionality, and underlying implementation of the standard.

Methods: The HGVS Variant Nomenclature Committee (HVNC) now operates under the Human Genome Organization (HUGO), facilitating broader community feedback and collaboration with related standards organizations.

Exploring the association of metabolic factors and chronic musculoskeletal pain over a period of 10 years - the Doetinchem Cohort Study.

Objective: To examine (a) the association between metabolic factors and chronic musculoskeletal pain (CMP), (b) metabolic predictors of CMP 10 years later, and (c) the association and evolution of metabolic factors across different CMP trajectory groups.

Design: Data from the longitudinal Doetinchem Cohort Study were used. We used round 4 (2003-2007), with 4519 participants aged 36-75 years, as the baseline for the present study, with follow-up measurements in round 5 (2008-2012), and 6 (2013-2017), including self-reported pain and metabolic factors, which were measured either via self-report or physical assessment.

Automated noise modelling using a triangulated terrain model.

Noise simulations are an important part of noise studies that investigate the impact of noise sources on the environment. In noise simulation, noise levels at receiver points are calculated based on the noise propagation paths between the receiver and source points. These paths are derived from the height of the terrain.

Nutri-Score in the European Food Retail Supply: A Potential Incentive for Food Reformulation?

Background: To improve consumers' diet, policy measures such as food reformulation strategies and front-of-pack nutritional labels (FOPNLs) are implemented, aiming to guide consumers' food choice and to stimulate an improvement in food composition by manufacturers. The FOPNL Nutri-Score has been implemented in several European countries. Changes in food compositions in relation to the Nutri-Score over time have been limitedly studied.