Intensive Care Unit Setup for COVID-19

AbstractThe coronavirus pandemic has become a challenge to all the healthcare systems in the world. Urgent creation of an intensive care unit (ICU) for the same is the need of the hour. The ideal ICU for COVID -19 should be isolated, fully equipped with invasive and noninvasive monitoring, with 24/7 trained medical personnel, nursing staff and laboratory support. As the coronavirus infection is transmitted by droplets and is highly contagious, protection of healthcare workers is crucial. Personnel working inside the ICU should get personal protective equipment (PPE). Strict guidelines for donning and doffing of PPE should be followed to prevent cross-contamination. Respiratory failure being the commonest complication of COVID-19, knowing the ventilator management for the same is essential. It is of great importance to meticulously manage all the resources to combat this contagion.

Download Full-text

Personal protective equipment use by healthcare workers in intensive care unit during the early phase of COVID-19 pandemic in Italy: a secondary analysis of the PPE-SAFE survey

Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease ◽

10.1177/2049936121998562 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

pp. 204993612199856

Author(s):

Mariachiara Ippolito ◽

Mahesh Ramanan ◽

Davide Bellina ◽

Giulia Catalisano ◽

Pasquale Iozzo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Secondary Analysis ◽

International Study ◽

Western Country ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Occupational Infection ◽

Significant Difference

Background: Italy was the first Western country to be heavily affected by COVID-19. Healthcare workers (HCWs) were exposed to a high risk of occupational infection, partially due to insufficient personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies. This study aimed to describe the practices, availability, training, confidence in PPE use and the adverse effects due to extended PPE use, as reported by HCWs in Italy. We also aimed to provide a comparison between Italian data and those from other countries. Methods: This study was a secondary analysis of a previously published international study, the PPE-SAFE Survey, conducted in April 2020. Data were analysed from the original study database. Results: We analysed the responses from 380 healthcare workers based in Italy, out of the 2711 respondents to the international survey. Among the Italian respondents, FFP2 and FFP3 respirators or equivalent were the most used masks for routine tasks (respectively 188/380, 50%; and 163/380, 43%). The median time of wearing PPE without taking a break was 5 h [interquartile range (IQR) 4–6], with statistically significant difference from other countries [median 4 h (IQR 2–5) p < 0.0001]. In Italy, 249 out of 380 (65%) HCWs had never performed a formal fit test for a N95 mask or equivalent and 91/380 (24%) never had a partner for donning and doffing procedures. Most of the respondents (299/380, 79%) had received formal training in PPE use at any time. Conclusion: Most of the surveyed Italian HCWs reported working at above usual capacity, long shifts with PPE without breaks and routine use in intensive care unit of aerosol protection (e.g. FFP2/FFP3), hazmat suits and face shields/visors. The correct adherence to safety procedures (e.g. donning/doffing in pairs, performing fit test) has substantial scope for improvement in the future.

Download Full-text

The role of the nurse in the neonatal intensive care unit: between the ideal, the real and the possible

Revista Latino-Americana de Enfermagem ◽

10.1590/s0104-11692011000200011 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 301-308 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Liciane Langona Montanholi ◽

Miriam Aparecida Barbosa Merighi ◽

Maria Cristina Pinto de Jesus

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ◽

Neonatal Intensive Care ◽

Public And Private ◽

Public And Private Hospitals ◽

The City ◽

Social Phenomenology ◽

The Ideal

The nurse is one of the professionals responsible for the care directed toward the physical, mental and social development of newborns in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. This study aimed to comprehend the experience of nurses working in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Data collection was performed in 2008, through interviews with 12 nurses working in public and private hospitals of the city of São Paulo. The units of meaning identified were grouped into three categories: Developing actions; Perceiving their actions and Expectations. The analysis was based on social phenomenology. It was concluded that the overload of activities, the reduced number of staff, the lack of materials, equipment and the need for professional improvement are the reality of the work of the nurse in this sector. To supervise the care is the possible; integral care of the newborn, involving the parents, is the ideal desired.

Download Full-text

Evaluation of the effectiveness of preventive and anti-epidemic measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among patients and medical personnel of an antitubercular hospital during the pandemic

Sanitarnyj vrač (Sanitary Inspector) ◽

10.33920/med-08-2102-01 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 8-14

Author(s):

Temirov Nemat Moidunovich ◽

Mamyrova Kanykey Kanybekovna ◽

Abdimomunova Begimay Toktobolotovna ◽

Satybaldieva Ayzirek Topchubaevna ◽

Zholdoshev Saparbay Tezekbaevich

Keyword(s):

High Efficiency ◽

Medical Personnel ◽

Hospital Staff ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Tuberculosis Control ◽

Control Center ◽

Adequate Ventilation ◽

Sources Of Infection ◽

Coronavirus Infection ◽

Spread Of Infection

The commonality of mechanisms and ways of transmission of new coronavirus infection and tuberculosis increases the risk of spreading pathogens and determines common preventive approaches. The aim of the work was to assess the effectiveness of preventive and anti-epidemic measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 among patients and medical personnel of an antitubercular hospital during the pandemic. Given the specifics of TB hospital developed and implemented a complex of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, which includes the identification and isolation of sources of infection, disinfection of air and adequate ventilation, disinfection of surfaces, use of personal protective equipment. The article describes the group morbidity of COVID-19 patients in an antitubercular hospital, which was caused by the introduction of infection into the hospital by patients in the incubation period. Timely measures made it possible to localize the situation and prevent the widespread spread of infection. The complex of measures for the protection of medical personnel has shown its high efficiency, which was manifested in the absence of cases of illness of personnel working in the «red zone». The absence of a consistent epidemic spread of the new coronavirus infection COVID-19 among patients and hospital staff of the R.G. Bauer Jalal-Abad Regional Tuberculosis Control Center allows us to use the described experience of conducting preventive and anti-epidemic measures in medical organizations of this type.

Download Full-text

Burnout Syndrome in UK Intensive Care Unit staff: Data from all three Burnout Syndrome domains and across professional groups, genders and ages

Journal of the Intensive Care Society ◽

10.1177/1751143719860391 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 20 (4) ◽

pp. 363-369 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Laura Vincent ◽

Peter G Brindley ◽

Julie Highfield ◽

Richard Innes ◽

Paul Greig ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Emotional Exhaustion ◽

Comprehensive Evaluation ◽

Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽

Medical Personnel ◽

Personal Accomplishment ◽

Burnout Syndrome ◽

Age Group ◽

The Uk

IntroductionThis is the first comprehensive evaluation of Burnout Syndrome across the UK Intensive Care Unit workforce and in all three Burnout Syndrome domains: Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalisation and lack of Personal Accomplishment.MethodsA questionnaire was emailed to UK Intensive Care Society members, incorporating the 22-item Maslach Burnout Inventory Human Services Survey for medical personnel. Burnout Syndrome domain scores were stratified by ‘risk’. Associations with gender, profession and age-group were explored.ResultsIn total, 996 multi-disciplinary responses were analysed. For Emotional Exhaustion, females scored higher and nurses scored higher than doctors. For Depersonalisation, males and younger respondents scored higher.ConclusionApproximately one-third of Intensive Care Unit team-members are at ‘high-risk’ for Burnout Syndrome, though there are important differences according to domain, gender, age-group and profession. This data may encourage a more nuanced understanding of Burnout Syndrome and more personalised strategies for our heterogeneous workforce.

Download Full-text

Hand hygiene compliance in the intensive care unit of the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital.

10.21203/rs.2.17130/v1 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Dikeledi Carol Sebola ◽

Charlie Boucher ◽

Caroline Maslo ◽

Daniel Nenene Qekwana

Keyword(s):

Intensive Care Unit ◽

Intensive Care ◽

Hand Hygiene ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Hand Hygiene Compliance ◽

Infection Prevention And Control ◽

Patient Contact ◽

Academic Hospital ◽

Hand Wash ◽

Hygiene Compliance

Abstract Hand hygiene compliance remains the cornerstone of infection prevention and control (IPC) in healthcare facilities. However, there is a paucity of information on the level of IPC in veterinary health care facilities in South Africa. Therefore, this study evaluated hand hygiene compliance of healthcare workers and visitors in the intensive care unit (ICU) at the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital (OVAH). Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted among healthcare workers (HCWs) and visitors in the ICU using the infection control assessment tool (ICAT) as stipulated by the South African National Department of Health. Direct observations using the “five hand hygiene moments” criteria as set out by the World helath Organisation were also recorded. The level of compliance and a 95% confidence interval were calculated for all variables. Results: Individual bottles of alcohol-based hand-rub solution and hand-wash basins with running water, soap dispensers, and paper towels were easily accessible and available at all times in the ICU. In total, 296 observations consisting of 734 hand hygiene opportunities were recorded. Hand hygiene compliance was also evaluated during invasive (51.4%) and non-invasive (48.6%) procedures. The overall hand hygiene compliance was 24.3% (178/734). In between patients, most HCWs did not sanitize stethoscopes, leashes, and cellular phones used. Additionally, the majority of HCWs wore jewellery below the elbows. The most common method of hand hygiene was hand-rub (58.4%), followed by hand-wash (41.6%). Nurses had a higher (44%) level of compliance compared to students (22%) and clinicians (15%). Compliance was also higher after body fluid exposure (42%) compared to after patient contact (32%), before patient contact (19%), after contact with patient surroundings (16%), and before an aseptic procedure (15%). Conclusion: Hand hygiene compliance in this study was low, raising concerns of potential transmission of hospital-acquired infections and zoonoses in the ICU. Therefore, it is essential that educational programs be developed to address the low level of hand hygiene in this study.

Download Full-text