Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39020307›Full record

Trial reportBMC public health2024

A prospective randomised controlled trial investigating household SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a densely populated community in Cape Town, South Africa - the transmission of COVID-19 in crowded environments (TRACE) study.

Philip Smith, Francesca Little, Sabine Hermans, Mary-Ann Davies, Robin Wood, Catherine Orrell, Carey Pike, Fatima Peters, Audry Dube, Daniella Georgeu-Pepper and 3 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in BMC public health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05119348 (Transmission of COVID19 in Crowded Environments), which is not on this map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05119348 nacompletednot on this map

Transmission of COVID19 in Crowded Environments

TypeinterventionalSponsorDesmond Tutu HIV FoundationRan2020 to 2021Enrolled245ConditionsCovid19, Sars-CoV-2 InfectionArmsSTOPCOV
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Philip SmithThe Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. Philip.Smith@hiv-research.org.za.
Francesca LittleDepartment of Statistical Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Sabine HermansAmsterdam UMC, Department of Global Health, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Mary-Ann DaviesCenter for Infectious Diseases Epidemiology and Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Robin WoodThe Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Catherine OrrellThe Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Carey PikeThe Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Fatima PetersWestern Cape Department of Health, Cape Town, South Africa.
Audry DubeKnowledge Translation Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Daniella Georgeu-PepperKnowledge Translation Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Robyn CurranKnowledge Translation Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Lara FairallKnowledge Translation Unit, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
Linda-Gail BekkerThe Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa. linda-gail.bekker@hiv-research.org.za.

Funding

European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership RIA2020EF-2981Medical Research Council RIA2020EF-2981
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSouth Africa's first SARS-CoV-2 case was identified 5th March 2020 and national lockdown followed March 26th. Households are an important location for secondary SARS-CoV-2 infection. Physical distancing and sanitation - infection mitigation recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) at the time - are difficult to implement in limited-resource settings because of overcrowded living conditions.

methodsThis study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05119348) was conducted from August 2020 to September 2021 in two densely populated, low socioeconomic Cape Town community sub-districts. New COVID-19 index cases (ICs) identified at public clinics were randomised to an infection mitigation intervention (STOPCOV) delivered by lay community health workers (CHWs) or standard of care group. STOPCOV mitigation measures included one initial household assessment conducted by a CHW in which face masks, sanitiser, bleach and written information on managing and preventing spread were provided. This was followed by regular telephonic follow-up from CHWs. SARS-CoV-2 PCR and IgM/IgG serology was performed at baseline, weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4 of follow-up.

resultsThe study randomised 81 ICs with 245 HHCs. At baseline, no HHCs in the control and 7 (5%) in the intervention group had prevalent SARS-CoV-2. The secondary infection rate (SIR) based on SARS-CoV-2 PCR testing was 1.9% (n = 2) in control and 2.9% (n = 4) in intervention HHCs (p = 0.598). At baseline, SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were present in 15% (16/108) of control and 38% (52/137) of intervention participants. At study end incidence was 8.3% (9/108) and 8.03% (11/137) in the intervention and control groups respectively. Antibodies were present in 23% (25/108) of control HHCs over the course of the study vs. 46% (63/137) in the intervention arm. CHWs made twelve clinic and 47 food parcel referrals for individuals in intervention households in need. DISCUSSION: Participants had significant exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infections prior to the study. In this setting, household transmission mitigation was ineffective. However, CHWs may have facilitated other important healthcare and social referrals.

Indexed as

COVID-19Family CharacteristicsSARS-CoV-2AdolescentAdultAgedChildCommunity Health WorkersCrowdingFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesSouth AfricaYoung AdultCommunity health workersCOVID-19Household transmissionInfection mitigationSARS-CoV-2

Identifiers

PMID39020307
PMCPMC11256445

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.