Abstract
+Abstract
The objective of this report was to describe the first face-to-face course aimed at training public health professionals in performing real-time genomic surveillance during the pandemic period. Experience report on a theoretical-practical course focusing on genomic research and surveillance, including mobile sequencing technologies, bioinformatics, phylogenetics and epidemiological modeling. There were 162 participants in the event and it was the first major face-to-face training course conducted during the COVID-19 epidemic in Brazil. No cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection was detected among the participants at the end of the event, suggesting the safety and effectiveness of all safety measures adopted. The results of this experience suggest that it is possible to conduct professional training safely during pandemics, as long as all safety protocols are followed.
Keywords:
COVID-19; Pandemic; Professional Training; Health Human Resources Development
Study contributions
+Study contributions
Main results Technology transfer can take place at large events, as long as safety protocols are strictly enforced. It is important to disseminate, at these events, the concepts of the Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI).
Implications for services Face-to-face training course is fundamental for training public health professionals. Technology transfer between research institutions and health services results in updating and improving health system performance.
Perspectives Based on the success of the reported technology transfer, a new module will be incorporated into the next edition of VEME (Panama 2022), entitled Virus Evolution to Public Health Policy Makers.
Resumo
+Resumo
O relato descrebeu o primeiro curso presencial visando capacitar profissionais de saúde pública na realização de vigilância genômica em tempo real, durante períodos pandêmicos. Relato de experiência sobre um curso teórico-prático com foco em pesquisa e vigilância genômica, incluindo tecnologias de sequenciamento móvel, bioinformática, filogenética e modelagem epidemiológica. O evento contou com 162 participantes e foi o primeiro grande treinamento presencial realizado durante a epidemia de covid-19 no Brasil. Não foi detectada infecção pelo SARS-CoV-2 ao final do evento em nenhum participante, sugerindo a segurança e efetividade de todas as medidas de segurança adotadas. Os resultados do evento sugerem que é possível executar capacitação profissional com segurança durante pandemias, desde que seguidos todos os protocolos de segurança.
+Palavras-chave:
Covid-19; Pandemia; Capacitação Profissional; Capacitação de Recursos Humanos em Saúde.
Contribuições do estudo
+Contribuições do estudo
Principais resultados A transferência tecnológica pode acontecer em grandes eventos, desde que protocolos de segurança sejam executados rigorosamente. É importante disseminar, nesses eventos, os conceitos do movimento Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI).
Implicações para os serviços Treinamentos presenciais são fundamentais para a capacitação de profissionais de saúde pública. A transferência tecnológica entre instituições de pesquisa e serviços de saúde resulta na atualização e melhora do desempenho do sistema de saúde.
Perspectivas A partir do sucesso da transferência tecnológica relatada, será incorporado um novo módulo na próxima edição do VEME (Panamá, 2022), intitulado Virus Evolution to Public Health Policy Makers.
Resumen
+Resumen
Este estudio tuvo como objetivo describir el primer curso presencial para capacitar a los profesionales de la salud pública para llevar a cabo la vigilancia genómica en tiempo real durante los períodos de pandemia. Este es un informe de experiencia en un curso teórico-práctico centrado en la investigación y vigilancia genómica, que incluye secuenciación móvil, bioinformática, filogenética y tecnologías de modelado epidemiológico. Este evento contó con la asistencia de 162 participantes y fue la primera gran capacitación presencial realizada durante la epidemia de COVID-19 en Brasil. No se detectó infección por SARS-CoV-2 al final del evento en ningún participante, lo que sugiere la seguridad y efectividad de todas las medidas de seguridad adoptadas. Por lo tanto, los resultados del evento sugieren que es posible realizar entrenamientos profesionales de manera segura durante pandemias, siempre y cuando se sigan todos los protocolos de seguridad.
Palabras-clave:
COVID-19; Pandemia; Capacitación Profesional; Capacitación de Recursos Humanos en Salud
INTRODUCTION
+INTRODUCTION
Pandemics are part of the group of natural disaster events triggered by socio-environmental phenomena and imbalances that affect populations. In this context, on January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) characterized the outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Having started in Wuhan, China, as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern,1 the disease quickly turned into a major global challenge and in March 2020, it was declared as a pandemic, requiring a rapid health response.2
@@ -70,7 +71,7 @@INTRODUCTION
With the support of the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNPq) and the Health Surveillance Secretariat/Ministry of Health (SVS/MS), VEME was held in Brazil, in September 2021.6
This experience report aims to discuss a face-to-face theoretical and practical course, conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic, for public health professionals, focusing on genomic research and surveillance. The course included topics such as mobile sequencing technologies, bioinformatics, phylogenetics and epidemiological modeling.
-METHODS
+METHODS
Traditionally, the previous 26 editions of VEME took place in a face-to-face format. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, VEME had two versions: (i) COVEME, a webinar format event focused on the application of bioinformatics tools in corona virus research; and (ii) VEME light, a face-to-face event focused on training and technology transfer. The event was conducted in both formats based on the concept of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI), which aims to strengthen the interactions between science and society.7),(8
@@ -94,7 +95,7 @@METHODS
Students and professors were provided with face shield and an adequate supply of NK95/PFF2 masks that allowed their exchanged every five hours. The use of the personal protective equipment (PPE) was mandatory throughout the course, with a constant reminder to use 70% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Everyone was advised not to leave the hotel during the days of the event.
The training participants, organizing committee, professors and hotel staff were tested for SARS-CoV-2 before the start and at the end of the event. Thus, nasopharyngeal samples were collected and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test was performed by employees of Fundação Ezequiel Dias (LACEN/MG), in an equipped temporary room at the event venue. PCR test was performed using Allplex 2019-nCoV Assay (Seegene), aiming to detect the envelope (E), the viral RNA-dependent RNA-polymerase (RdRp) or RNA replicase and the nucleocapsid (N) gene.
-RESULTS
+RESULTS
VEME light had a total of 162 participants, including 146 students and 16 professors. Among the students, 131 came from 21 different Brazilian institutions: 64 employees of LACENs and CGLAB; and 67 came from other municipal, academic and research institutions directly involved in emerging and re-emerging infections. The remaining 15 students were from other countries: Mexico, Paraguay, Uruguay, Guatemala, the Dominican Republic and Senegal.
For the selection of students, gender equity was taken into account, in addition to the participation of two to three representatives of each of the 27 LACENs in the country. These professionals work directly with the sequencing of SARS-CoV-2 and data analysis. The training course enabled them to perform the necessary analyses for genomic surveillance (genome assembly, phylogenetic analyses, identification of viral variants) and as a result, several scientific publications authored by these professionals are currently underway.17)-(RESULTS
DISCUSSION
+DISCUSSION
In recent years, at the initiative of the Ministry of Health, the LACENs have been implementing different Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) strategies to perform genomic surveillance. This process has enabled each LACEN to generate complete genomes of emerging and re-emerging viral pathogens, circulating and co-circulating in each state. In this scenario, the need arose to train healthcare workers in the use of bioinformatics tools, enabling them to analyze genomic data generated in their laboratories in real time. This would have facilitated the rapid dissemination - among public health authorities - of the number of genotypes and subtypes of the circulating viral strains detected by each of the 27 LACENs, so that control measures could be promptly implemented. Given the demand, this training course has initiated the technology transfer process and capacity building of public health professionals in Brazil for the real-time monitoring and analysis of genomic data.
It is worth highlighting that during VEME light, concepts of Responsible Research and Innovation RRI were addressed. It is a movement that aims to restructure the way science is integrated into society.7),(DISCUSSION
The implementation of technology transfer in a face-to-face course, during the COVID-19 epidemic in Brazil, was of great relevance for the training of public health professionals involved. The topics covered during the event enabled not only genomic data generation, but also their rapid analysis. This training process was fundamental for monitoring the evolution of the epidemic at the local level. Motivated by the success of this experience, a new module entitled Virus Evolution to Public Health Policy Makers will be incorporated into the next edition of VEME in Panama in 2022. This training course for health professionals in genomic data analysis represents a milestone in epidemiological surveillance, allowing Brazil not only to efficiently monitor endemic strains, but also to predict new outbreaks through active monitoring and real-time data analysis.
REFERENCES
+REFERENCES
- 1 Marques RC, Silveira AJT, Pimenta DN. A pandemia de covid-19: interseções e desafios para a história da saúde e do tempo presente. In: Reis TS, Souza CM, Oliveira MP, Lyra Júnior AA, organizadores. Coleção história do tempo presente: volume 3. Boa Vista: Editora da UFRR; 2020. p. 225-49. @@ -206,7 +207,7 @@
REFERENCES
Publication Dates
+Publication Dates
-
Publication in this collection
18 Aug 2023
@@ -215,7 +216,7 @@
Publication Dates
History
+History
-
Received
18 Aug 2022
@@ -233,143 +234,158 @@
History
Authorship
Figures | Tables
VEME light flowchart with description of safety protocols
Description of the activities performed during VEME light
