scholarly journals Protecting healthcare workers from SARS-CoV-2 and other infections

2020 ◽  
Vol 148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengding Chen ◽  
Xin Wei ◽  
Zhengguang Wang
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Respiratory Diseases ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Major Threat ◽  
Tremendous Impact

Abstract Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a tremendous impact in China and abroad since its onset in December 2019 and poses a major threat to human health. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at the forefront of the response to outbreaks. This study reviewed literature data and found that HCWs were at high risk of infection during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially at the early stage of the epidemic, and many factors greatly affected their occupational safety. Although SARS-CoV-2 transmission was controlled in China, the Chinese experience can help protect HCWs from COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases.

Incidence of hepatitis C virus infection among Egyptian healthcare workers at high risk of infection

2013 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayed F. Abdelwahab ◽  
Mohamed Hashem ◽  
Iman Galal ◽  
Maha Sobhy ◽  
Tamer S. Abdel-Ghaffar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hepatitis C Virus ◽  
Hepatitis C ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Virus Infection ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Hepatitis C Virus Infection

scholarly journals Literature Review: Occupational Safety and Health Risk Factors of Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 144
Author(s):  
Prima Ardiansah Surya ◽  
Marsheila Harvy Mustikaningtyas ◽  
Sacharissa Zerlina Tsarwah Thirafi ◽  
Afika Danedea Pramitha ◽  
Laksita Taffara Mahdy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Hand Hygiene ◽  
Traffic Control ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Occupational Safety And Health ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Safety And Health

Introduction: The pandemic of COVID-19 has major effects, particularly on hospitals and health workers. At the beginning of March, more than 3,300 health workers have beencontracted with COVID-19 as reported by China's National Health Commission. Twenty percent of healthcare workers in Italy have also also infected and some died. To minimize the risk of transmission to health workers, knowledge of the risk factors that influence the transmission is needed. Thus, this study aims to determine risk factors related to occupational safety and health for healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The literature was searched on Pubmed, Google Scholar, WHO, and the Ministry of Health instruments were implemented. 8 relevant studies were reviewed. Results: According to the analysis results of several studies, the use of PPE that is less consistent and not suitable with the risk of exposure will increase the risk of infection. The risk of infection is also increased by poor hand hygiene. According to the Kaplan-Meier curve, the working duration of ≥ 15 hours will increase the risk of infection. The risk of infection also exists for health workers who carry out risky procedures that generate airborne particles such as resuscitation, as well as environmental factors such as negative pressure rooms and traffic control bundling. Conclusion: Risk factors related to occupational health and safety during this COVID-19 pandemic for healthcare staff are: compliance with the use of PPE, hand hygiene, working hours duration, risky procedures, and environmental factors.Keywords: healthcare workers, occupational safety, COVID-19, personal protective equipment

Precautions to Be Taken by The Surgeons During COVID-19 Era

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanupreet Dhiman
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Infectious Virus ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Outpatient Clinics ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Hospital Visits

The whole world is going through the unusual phase since the COVID -19 pandemic. Lives of many people upended due to this unpredictable infectious virus. It has spread in the whole world like fire in the woods. The Virus has disturbed the human life in all aspects especially the healthcare. Hospital visits specifically outpatient clinics and other surgical practices came to standstill. Healthcare workers were the ones who were in the high risk of infection due to the community spread. It was the serious issue as they are coming in contact of numerous patients in a day.

scholarly journals High-risk exposure without personal protective equipment and infection with SARS-CoV-2 in healthcare workers: results of the CoV-CONTACT prospective cohort

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Tubiana ◽  
Charles Burdet ◽  
Nadhira Houhou ◽  
Michael Thy ◽  
Pauline Manchon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Prospective Cohort ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Risk Exposure ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Rt Pcr ◽  
Specific Symptom ◽  
Increased Risk

Objective: We aimed to estimate the risk of infection in Healthcare workers (HCWs) following a high-risk exposure without personal protective equipment (PPE). Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort in HCWs who had a high-risk exposure to SARS-CoV-2-infected subject without PPE. Daily symptoms were self-reported for 30 days, nasopharyngeal swabs for SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR were performed at inclusion and at days 3, 5, 7 and 12, SARS-CoV-2 serology was assessed at inclusion and at day 30. Confirmed infection was defined by positive RT-PCR or seroconversion, and possible infection by one general and one specific symptom for two consecutive days. Results: Between February 5th and May 30th, 2020, 154 HCWs were enrolled within 14 days following one high-risk exposure to either a hospital patient (70/154; 46.1%) and/or a colleague (95/154; 62.5%). At day 30, 25.0% had a confirmed infection (37/148; 95%CI, 18.4%; 32.9%), and 43.9% (65/148; 95%CI, 35.9%; 52.3%) had a confirmed or possible infection. Factors independently associated with confirmed or possible SARS-CoV-2 infection were being a pharmacist or administrative assistant rather than being from medical staff (adjusted OR (aOR)=3.8, CI95%=1.3;11.2, p=0.01), and exposure to a SARS-CoV-2-infected patient rather than exposure to a SARS-CoV-2-infected colleague (aOR=2.6, CI95%=1.2;5.9, p=0.02). Among the 26 HCWs with a SARS-CoV-2-positive nasopharyngeal swab, 7 (26.9%) had no symptom at the time of the RT-PCR positivity. Conclusions: The proportion of HCWs with confirmed or possible SARS-CoV-2 infection was high. There were less occurrences of high-risk exposure with patients than with colleagues, but those were associated with an increased risk of infection.

scholarly journals Povidone iodine ‘WET’ technique: adenotonsillectomy in COVID era

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 563
Author(s):  
Nithya Venkataramani ◽  
Ravi Sachidananda ◽  
Nidhi R. Sachidananda
Keyword(s):  
Viral Load ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Service Delivery ◽  
Operating Room ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Povidone Iodine ◽  
Minimal Risk ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Operating Room Personnel ◽  
Increasing Demand

<p>COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed ENT practice. Most elective ENT (ear, nose, throat) surgeries possess a risk of infection, as well as potentially increasing complication.<sup>1</sup> With the current pandemic slowly evolving and ever-increasing demand for elective services to restart, service delivery with minimal risk to healthcare workers is a challenge. ENT procedures like adenotonsillectomy, microdebrider FESS and mastoidectomy and many more are aerosol generating procedures. Adenotonsillectomy is particularly challenging with high risk to the operating room personnel as the viral load is significantly high in the nasopharynx and oropharynx. Evidence from China shows us that the pandemic could last for at least six months<sup>2</sup> and modifications of techniques and adapting to the new norm is the key.</p>

scholarly journals The Interventional Radiology Service During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Steps to Managing the Risk of Infection

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Maria Ierardi ◽  
Aldo Carnevale ◽  
Melchiore Giganti ◽  
Gianpaolo Carrafiello
Keyword(s):  
Interventional Radiology ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Selection Criteria ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Optimization Methods ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Technical Problems ◽  
Workflow Optimization ◽  
Radiology Service ◽  
Safety And Health

It is imperative to ensure the safety of healthcare workers in the angiographic room during the outbreak of the Covid-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). The selection criteria for Interventional radiology (IR) procedures, the preparation of the staff and angiographic suite, ventilation systems, intra- and post-procedural workflow optimization methods are detailed. The specific measures needed to protect occupational safety and health may result in higher costs, longer procedural times and greater technical problems. However, these precautions may help to minimize the spread of the Covid-19 among IR practitioners.

scholarly journals Interventional Pulmonology and COVID-19: Experience from a Malaysian Tertiary Hospital

2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (12) ◽  
pp. 1013-1017
Author(s):  
Nai-Chien Huan ◽  
Khai Lip Ng ◽  
Jeat Thong Tang ◽  
Han Nee Kua ◽  
Ummi Nadira Daut ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Medical Education ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Medical Practice ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Tertiary Hospital ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Interventional Pulmonology ◽  
Continue Medical ◽  
Multiple Challenges

Abstract The ongoing pandemic of COVID-19 has presented multiple challenges to global healthcare services, dictating changes in almost every aspect of daily medical practice. Performing aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) in the field of interventional pulmonology can lead to profound formation of aerosols, leading to a high risk of infection among healthcare workers (HCWs). We share our experiences on performing AGPs in the midst of a COVID-19 pandemic by focusing on changes in AGP practices. In a pandemic, HCWs ought to adapt to the ever-changing situation and use available resources to provide the best possible healthcare to patients, ensure safety of staff, and continue medical education of future pulmonologists. Keywords: Bronchoscopy, infectious diseases, pulmonary, respiratory medicine

scholarly journals Ensuring safety and availability of healthcare workers in the era of COVID-19: An experience from the Eastern State of India

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 ◽  
pp. 58-64 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neeraj Agarwal ◽  
Bijit Biswas ◽  
Rathish Nair
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Low Risk ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Risk Exposure ◽  
Risk Of Infection ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
Contact Investigation ◽  
Tracing Algorithm

Objectives: The objective of this study was to design a contact tracing algorithm and contact investigation form for healthcare workers deployed in rendering essential health-care services in limitedly resourced healthcare settings during the COVID era. Material and Methods: It was an observational study, longitudinal in design. Based on the existing evidence as of April 15, 2020, we have designed a contact tracing algorithm and contact investigation form to determine the risk of infection among healthcare workers. Later, we have tested the developed contact tracing algorithm and contact investigation from among 28 suspected contacts of a confirmed COVID-19 case admitted in all India Institute of Medical Sciences Patna, Bihar, India. Results: Using the designed contact investigation form, all the 28 suspected contacts of the confirmed COVID-19 case were interviewed, among which only 7(25%) were found to be having high-risk exposure. All persons with high-risk exposure were home quarantined for 5 days, along with their direct contacts. Eventually, all high-risk contacts were tested negative on the 5th day after exposure and immediately joined their duties after that. Those who were at low risk of infection continued to work and self-monitor for COVID compatible symptoms for 14 days. Eventually, none of the low-risk exposure persons developed COVID compatible symptoms, therefore deferred testing. Conclusion: The contact tracing approach designed in the current study is a balanced one where we tried to balance health workers safety without compromising their availability for duty. This approach can also be implemented in other healthcare settings in the era of COVID-19.

scholarly journals Evaluation of a home-based 7-day infection control strategy for healthcare workers following high-risk exposure to severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2): A cohort study

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Carla Benea ◽  
Laura Rendon ◽  
Jesse Papenburg ◽  
Charles Frenette ◽  
Ahmed Imacoudene ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Control Strategy ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Risk Exposure ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Respiratory Coronavirus ◽  
Second Wave

Abstract Objective: Evidence-based infection control strategies are needed for healthcare workers (HCWs) following high-risk exposure to severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). In this study, we evaluated the negative predictive value (NPV) of a home-based 7-day infection control strategy. Methods: HCWs advised by their infection control or occupational health officer to self-isolate due to a high-risk SARS-CoV-2 exposure were enrolled between May and October 2020. The strategy consisted of symptom-triggered nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 RNA testing from day 0 to day 7 after exposure and standardized home-based nasopharyngeal swab and saliva testing on day 7. The NPV of this strategy was calculated for (1) clinical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis from day 8–14 after exposure, and for (2) asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 detected by standardized nasopharyngeal swab and saliva specimens collected at days 9, 10, and 14 after exposure. Interim results are reported in the context of a second wave threatening this essential workforce. Results: Among 30 HCWs enrolled, the mean age was 31 years (SD, ±9), and 24 (80%) were female. Moreover, 3 were diagnosed with COVID-19 by day 14 after exposure (secondary attack rate, 10.0%), and all cases were detected using the 7-day infection control strategy: the NPV for subsequent clinical COVID-19 or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 detection by day 14 was 100.0% (95% CI, 93.1%–100.0%). Conclusions: Among HCWs with high-risk exposure to SARS-CoV-2, a home-based 7-day infection control strategy may have a high NPV for subsequent COVID-19 and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 detection. Ongoing data collection and data sharing are needed to improve the precision of the estimated NPV, and here we report interim results to inform infection control strategies in light of a second wave threatening this essential workforce.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document