scholarly journals Development of a new Aerosol Barrier Mask for mitigation of spread of SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious pathogens

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karam Abi Karam ◽  
Piyush Hota ◽  
S. Jimena Mora ◽  
Amelia Lowell ◽  
Kelly McKay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Oxygen Delivery ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Respiratory Pathogens ◽  
Air Dispersion ◽  
Exhaled Air ◽  
Huge Impact

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused huge impact on public health and significantly changed our lifestyle. This is due to the fast airborne oro-nasal transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from the infected individuals. The generation of liquid aerosolized particles occurs when the COVID-19 patients speak, sing, cough, sneeze, or simply breathe. We have developed a novel aerosol barrier mask (ABM) to mitigate the spread of SARS-CoV-2 and other infectious pathogens. This Aerosol Barrier Mask is designed for preventing SARS-CoV-2 transmission while transporting patients within hospital facilities. This mask can constrain aerosol and droplet particles and trap them in a biofilter, while the patient is normally breathing and administrated with medical oxygen. The system can be characterized as an oxygen delivery and mitigation mask which has no unfiltered exhaled air dispersion. The mask helps to prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2, and potentially other infectious respiratory pathogens and protects everyone in general, especially healthcare professionals.

scholarly journals Exhaled Air Dispersion During Oxygen Delivery Via a Simple Oxygen Mask

CHEST Journal ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
pp. 540-546 ◽  
Author(s):  
David S. Hui ◽  
Stephen D. Hall ◽  
Matthew T.V. Chan ◽  
Benny K. Chow ◽  
Susanna S. Ng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Delivery ◽  
Oxygen Mask ◽  
Air Dispersion ◽  
Exhaled Air

Exhaled air dispersion and removal is influenced by isolation room size and ventilation settings during oxygen delivery via nasal cannula

Respirology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 16 (6) ◽  
pp. 1005-1013 ◽  
Author(s):  
DAVID S. HUI ◽  
BENNY K. CHOW ◽  
LEO CHU ◽  
SUSANNA S. NG ◽  
SIK-TO LAI ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxygen Delivery ◽  
Nasal Cannula ◽  
Isolation Room ◽  
Room Size ◽  
Air Dispersion ◽  
Exhaled Air

scholarly journals What is common and what is different: recommendations from European scientific societies for triage in the first outbreak of COVID-19

2021 ◽  
pp. medethics-2020-106969
Author(s):  
Joana Teles Sarmento ◽  
Cristina Lírio Pedrosa ◽  
Ana Sofia Carvalho
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Public Health Emergency ◽  
Fair Allocation ◽  
Ethical Values ◽  
Scientific Societies ◽  
Decision Tools ◽  
Life Saving

A public health emergency, as the COVID-19 pandemic, may lead to shortages of potentially life-saving treatments. In this situation, it is necessary, justifiable and proportionate to have decision tools in place to enable healthcare professionals to triage and prioritise access to those resources. An ethically sound framework should consider the principles of beneficence and fair allocation. Scientific Societies across Europe were concerned with this problem early in the pandemic and published guidelines to support their professionals and institutions. This article aims to compare triage policies from medical bodies across Europe, to characterise the process of triage and the ethical values, principles and theories that were proposed in different countries during the first outbreak of COVID-19.

scholarly journals The Effects of Social Distancing Policies on non-SARS-CoV-2 Respiratory Pathogens

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeff Nawrocki ◽  
Katherine Olin ◽  
Martin C Holdrege ◽  
Joel Hartsell ◽  
Lindsay Meyers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Influenza A ◽  
Detection Rate ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
Respiratory Pathogens ◽  
Public Health Response ◽  
Mixed Effect ◽  
Detection Rates ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background The initial focus of the US public health response to COVID-19 was the implementation of numerous social distancing policies. While COVID-19 was the impetus for imposing these policies, it is not the only respiratory disease affected by their implementation. This study aimed to assess the impact of social distancing policies on non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory pathogens typically circulating across multiple US states. Methods Linear mixed-effect models were implemented to explore the effects of five social distancing policies on non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory pathogens across nine states from January 1 through May 1, 2020. The observed 2020 pathogen detection rates were compared week-by-week to historical rates to determine when the detection rates were different. Results Model results indicate that several social distancing policies were associated with a reduction in total detection rate, by nearly 15%. Policies were associated with decreases in pathogen circulation of human rhinovirus/enterovirus and human metapneumovirus, as well as influenza A, which typically decrease after winter. Parainfluenza viruses failed to circulate at historical levels during the spring. Total detection rate in April 2020 was 35% less than historical average. Many of the pathogens driving this difference fell below historical detection rate ranges within two weeks of initial policy implementation. Conclusion This analysis investigated the effect of multiple social distancing policies implemented to reduce transmission of SARS-CoV-2 on non-SARS-CoV-2 respiratory pathogens. These findings suggest that social distancing policies may be used as an impactful public health tool to reduce communicable respiratory illness.

scholarly journals Obstetric Violence in Spain (Part III): Healthcare Professionals, Times and Areas

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3359
Author(s):  
Desirée Mena-Tudela ◽  
Susana Iglesias-Casás ◽  
Víctor Manuel González-Chordá ◽  
María Jesús Valero-Chillerón ◽  
Laura Andreu-Pejó ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Informed Consent ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Obstetric Violence

Background: Obstetric violence is a worldwide public health problem, which seems greater in Spain. As no studies were found that identify the most representative healthcare professionals, times, and areas involved in obstetric violence, the objective of this work was to study at what time of maternity, with which professionals, and in what areas women identified obstetric violence. Methods: This descriptive, retrospective, and cross-sectional study was performed from January 2018 to June 2019. The main variables were the area (hospital, primary care, both), the time (pregnancy, birth, puerperium), and the professionals attending to women. Results: Our sample comprised 17,541 participants. The area identified with the most obstetric violence for the different studied variables was hospitals. Women identified more obstetric violence at time of birth. Findings such as lack of information and informed consent (74.2%), and criticism of infantile behavior and treatment (87.6%), stood out. The main identified healthcare professionals were midwives and gynecologists, and “other” professionals repeatedly appeared. Conclusions: Having identified the professionals, times, and areas of most obstetric violence in Spain, it seems necessary to reflect on not only the Spanish National Health System’s structure and management but also on healthcare professionals’ training.

Doing Harm

2021 ◽  
pp. 212-231
Author(s):  
Jeanne Flavin ◽  
Lynn M. Paltrow
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Social Workers ◽  
Criminal Law ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
New Mothers ◽  
Confidential Information ◽  
Patient Confidentiality ◽  
Hospital Social Workers ◽  
Medical Health ◽  
Private Matter

Under the guise of “protecting the unborn,” anti-abortion and related measures such as feticide laws are being used as the basis for arresting pregnant women and new mothers. It is often the case that the initial disclosure of information that led to the involvement of criminal law, child welfare, or other state authorities has been made by healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, and hospital social workers. Pregnant patients—like other patients—should expect that their medical health is a private matter and that healthcare provider–patient confidentiality will be respected. Such disclosures have legal, social, and public health consequences and frequently lead to interventions that are punitive and counterproductive, not protective. This chapter describes the ethical obligations of healthcare professionals, including their duty to advocate for the protection of confidential information and to work to change unjust practices, policies, and laws.

20. EU health law

2020 ◽  
pp. 643-672
Author(s):  
Tamara K Hervey
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Medical Devices ◽  
Human Tissue ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Health Law ◽  
Eu Law ◽  
Patient Mobility ◽  
The Law

This chapter examines EU law on health. Specifically, it discusses the law governing patient mobility; healthcare professionals; healthcare institutions; medical devices and pharmaceuticals; blood, organs, and human tissue; and public health.

scholarly journals Healthcare utilization among breast cancer patients during the COVID-19 outbreak

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 385-391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shiri Shinan-Altman ◽  
Inbar Levkovich ◽  
Guy Tavori
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Health Services ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Health Services Utilization ◽  
Breast Cancer Patients ◽  
Perceived Susceptibility ◽  
Services Utilization ◽  
Sense Of Mastery

AbstractObjectiveContinuing to utilize healthcare as needed during an epidemic outbreak is significant, in general, and especially for cancer patients. Therefore, this study aimed to explore factors associated with health services utilization among breast cancer patients during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak.MethodA cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 151 women with breast cancer. Participants completed measures of perceived health status, perceived susceptibility to COVID-19, anxiety, coping resources, health services utilization (contact with healthcare professionals and cancellation of an appointment to the oncology/hematology clinic), and socio-demographic questionnaires. A multiple hierarchical regression was calculated; contact with healthcare professionals was the dependent variable. In addition, a logistic regression was calculated; cancellation of an appointment to the oncology/hematology clinic because of the COVID-19 was the dependent variable.ResultsBreast cancer patients’ contact with healthcare professionals was lower than their contact prior to the pandemic. A higher extent of contact with healthcare professionals was related to patients’ perception of health as bad/reasonable, lower perceived susceptibility, a lower sense of mastery, and higher social support. In addition, the odds of cancelling an appointment to the oncology/hematology clinic were higher in the presence of additional chronic illnesses and a higher sense of mastery.Significance of resultsThe results could provide public health agencies with a more complete picture of the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic among breast cancer patients. This is significant because, in the event that COVID-19 re-emerges, the findings of the current study could help guide public health officials and possibly prevent the future avoidance of health services’ use among this high-risk population.

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