tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Ann Epidemiol
. 2023 Mar 29;S1047-2797(23)00058-3.
doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2023.03.009. Online ahead of print.
Super-spreaders of novel coronaviruses that cause SARS, MERS and COVID-19: A systematic review
Julii Brainard 1 , Natalia R Jones 2 , Florence C D Harrison 2 , Charlotte C Hammer 3 , Iain R Lake 2
Affiliations
PMID: 37001627 DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2023.03.009
Abstract
Objective: Most index cases with novel coronavirus infections transmit disease to just one or two other individuals, but some individuals 'super-spread' - they infect many secondary cases. Understanding common factors that super-spreaders may share could inform outbreak models, and be used to guide contact tracing during outbreaks.
Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search in MEDLINE, Scopus and preprint servers to identify studies about people documented as transmitting pathogens that cause SARS, MERS or COVID-19 to at least nine other people. We extracted data from and applied quality assessment to eligible published scientific studies about super-spreaders to describe them by age, sex, location, occupation, activities, symptom severity, any underlying conditions and disease outcome. We included scientific studies published by mid June 2021.
Results: The completeness of data reporting was often limited, which meant we could not identify traits such as patient age, sex or occupation. Where demographic information was available, the most typical super-spreader was a male age 40+. Most SARS or MERS super-spreaders were very symptomatic, the super-spreading occurred in hospital settings and frequently the individual died. In contrast, COVID-19 super-spreaders often had very mild disease and most COVID-19 super-spreading happened in community settings.
Conclusion: SARS and MERS super-spreaders were often symptomatic, middle- or older-age adults who had a high mortality rate. In contrast, COVID-19 super-spreaders tended to have mild disease and were documented to be any adult age. More outbreak reports should be published with anonymised but useful demographic information to improve understanding of super-spreading, super-spreaders, and the settings that super-spreading happens in.
Keywords: Coronavirus; heterogeneity of transmission; index cases; super-spreading.
. 2023 Mar 29;S1047-2797(23)00058-3.
doi: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2023.03.009. Online ahead of print.
Super-spreaders of novel coronaviruses that cause SARS, MERS and COVID-19: A systematic review
Julii Brainard 1 , Natalia R Jones 2 , Florence C D Harrison 2 , Charlotte C Hammer 3 , Iain R Lake 2
Affiliations
PMID: 37001627 DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2023.03.009
Abstract
Objective: Most index cases with novel coronavirus infections transmit disease to just one or two other individuals, but some individuals 'super-spread' - they infect many secondary cases. Understanding common factors that super-spreaders may share could inform outbreak models, and be used to guide contact tracing during outbreaks.
Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search in MEDLINE, Scopus and preprint servers to identify studies about people documented as transmitting pathogens that cause SARS, MERS or COVID-19 to at least nine other people. We extracted data from and applied quality assessment to eligible published scientific studies about super-spreaders to describe them by age, sex, location, occupation, activities, symptom severity, any underlying conditions and disease outcome. We included scientific studies published by mid June 2021.
Results: The completeness of data reporting was often limited, which meant we could not identify traits such as patient age, sex or occupation. Where demographic information was available, the most typical super-spreader was a male age 40+. Most SARS or MERS super-spreaders were very symptomatic, the super-spreading occurred in hospital settings and frequently the individual died. In contrast, COVID-19 super-spreaders often had very mild disease and most COVID-19 super-spreading happened in community settings.
Conclusion: SARS and MERS super-spreaders were often symptomatic, middle- or older-age adults who had a high mortality rate. In contrast, COVID-19 super-spreaders tended to have mild disease and were documented to be any adult age. More outbreak reports should be published with anonymised but useful demographic information to improve understanding of super-spreading, super-spreaders, and the settings that super-spreading happens in.
Keywords: Coronavirus; heterogeneity of transmission; index cases; super-spreading.