scholarly journals Development of Tribo-Electroceutical Fabrics for Potential Application in Self-sanitizing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sayan Bayan ◽  
Aniruddha Adhikari ◽  
Uttam Pal ◽  
Ria Ghosh ◽  
Susmita Mondal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Saline Water ◽  
Computational Modelling ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Optimum Structure ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Mechanistic Pathway ◽  
Microbial Infections ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Functional Prototype

AbstractAttachment of microbial bodies including coronavirus on the surface of personal protective equipment (PPE) is found to be potential threat of spreading infection. Here, we report the development of a novel tribo-electroceutical fabric (TECF) consisting of commonly available materials namely Nylon, and Silicone Rubber (SR) for the fabrication of protective gloves on Nitrile platform, as a model wearable PPE. A small triboelectric device (2 cm × 2 cm) consisting of SR and Nylon on Nitrile can generate more than 20 volt transient or 41 µW output power, which is capable of charging a capacitor up to 65 V in only ∼50 sec. The novelty of the present work relies on the TECF led anti-microbial activity through the generation of an electric current in saline water. The fabrication of TECF based functional prototype gloves can generate hypochlorite ions through the formation of electrolysed water upon rubbing them with saline water. Further a computational modelling has been employed to reveal the optimum structure and mechanistic pathway of anti-microbial hypochlorite generation. Detailed anti-microbial assays have been performed to establish effectiveness of such TECF based gloves to reduce the risk from life threatening pathogen spreading. The present work provides the rationale to consider the studied TECF, or other material with comparable properties, as material of choice for the development of self-sanitizing PPE in the fight against microbial infections including COVID-19.

scholarly journals Citizen science highlights litter associated with COVID-19 as a potential threat on the island of Mindanao, Philippines: a marine biodiversity hotspot

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Neil Angelo Abreo ◽  
Vladimer Kobayashi
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Citizen Science ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Marine Species ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
Marine Biodiversity ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Negative Interaction ◽  
Potential Threat ◽  
Marine Litter

The on-going COVID-19 pandemic is expected to exacerbate the marine litter problem. The use of disposable personal protective equipment (e.g., facemasks) will result to increase in marine plastics pollution. Here we explored the potential of citizen science to determine the distribution of marine litter associated with COVID-19 in Mindanao, Philippines. Volunteers were invited through social media, contributing geotagged photographs of marine litter associated with COVID-19. Although the information is limited, results showed the possible pervasiveness of marine litter associated with COVID-19. Since the waters surrounding the Southern Philippines is known to host high marine biodiversity, the potential negative interaction of marine litter associated with COVID-19 and marine species is inevitable. The contribution of citizen science to address some of the limitations on marine litter research is highlighted and is recommended to be explored further.

scholarly journals Effect of delayed elective surgeries during COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad S. Siddiqui ◽  
Shouq S. Alrumayh ◽  
Nada T. Alothman ◽  
Saad A. Al Rheman ◽  
Ali H. Alsalman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gastrointestinal Tract ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Nosocomial Infections ◽  
Malignant Tumors ◽  
The Other ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Hospital Stays ◽  
Hospital Visits ◽  
Number Of Individuals

The field of surgery has been greatly affected during the pandemic due to the shift of resources to manage the huge numbers of COVID-19 cases. In this study, we aim to review the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown measures on elective surgeries and the subsequent complications, in addition to the previously announced preparations and precautions for performing surgeries whenever indicated. Preparations include the availability of resources and performing each surgery in separate rooms away from other wards within the hospital to prevent any possibility of nosocomial infections. Moreover, limiting the number of individuals within the operation room and wearing personal protective equipment should be done. Limiting hospital visits and reducing in-hospital stays is also recommended. Regarding cancer operations, malignant tumors that were indicated for surgeries cannot be postponed. However, other non-malignant ones can be delayed depending on the pathologist's perspective and the symptomatology of the tumor. Besides, other surgeries like plastic and reconstructive ones can be re-scheduled. Additionally, most surgeries like urologic, orthopedic, and neurological operations can be delayed unless they are associated with a life-threatening lesion that can only be healed by surgical interference. On the other hand, palliative surgeries aiming to manage obstructions of the gastrointestinal tract cannot be delayed.

Impact of COVID-19 on Nuclear Medicine in Germany, Austria and Switzerland: An International Survey in April 2020

2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (04) ◽  
pp. 294-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lutz S. Freudenberg ◽  
Ulf Dittmer ◽  
Ken Herrmann
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Medicine ◽  
Health Systems ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Diagnostic Procedures ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Current Crisis ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Public Versus Private ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Introduction Preparations of health systems to accommodate large number of severely ill COVID-19 patients in March/April 2020 has a significant impact on nuclear medicine departments. Materials and Methods A web-based questionnaire was designed to differentiate the impact of the pandemic on inpatient and outpatient nuclear medicine operations and on public versus private health systems, respectively. Questions were addressing the following issues: impact on nuclear medicine diagnostics and therapy, use of recommendations, personal protective equipment, and organizational adaptations. The survey was available for 6 days and closed on April 20, 2020. Results 113 complete responses were recorded. Nearly all participants (97 %) report a decline of nuclear medicine diagnostic procedures. The mean reduction in the last three weeks for PET/CT, scintigraphies of bone, myocardium, lung thyroid, sentinel lymph-node are –14.4 %, –47.2 %, –47.5 %, –40.7 %, –58.4 %, and –25.2 % respectively. Furthermore, 76 % of the participants report a reduction in therapies especially for benign thyroid disease (-41.8 %) and radiosynoviorthesis (–53.8 %) while tumor therapies remained mainly stable. 48 % of the participants report a shortage of personal protective equipment. Conclusions Nuclear medicine services are notably reduced 3 weeks after the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic reached Germany, Austria and Switzerland on a large scale. We must be aware that the current crisis will also have a significant economic impact on the healthcare system. As the survey cannot adapt to daily dynamic changes in priorities, it serves as a first snapshot requiring follow-up studies and comparisons with other countries and regions.

Infectious safety of nursing staff in departments (offices) functional diagnostics in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
pp. 30-33
Author(s):  
E. V. Panina ◽  
M. V. Pugachev ◽  
A. G. Shchesiu
Keyword(s):  
Medical Care ◽  
Nursing Staff ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Medical Personnel ◽  
Medical Waste ◽  
Daily Activities ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Functional Diagnostics ◽  
Prevention Of Infections ◽  
Epidemiological Situation

The article shows that in the daily activities of nursing staff of functional diagnostics departments (offices), it is necessary to strictly observe the requirements and rules for the prevention of infections associated with medical care, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The types of personal protective equipment (PPE) of medical personnel (MP), as well as current effective methods of disinfection, rules for collecting medical waste in a complex epidemiological situation are presented.

Recomendações de equipamentos de proteção individual no combate ao COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (31) ◽  
pp. 87-95
Author(s):  
Nicole Maria Miyamoto Bettini ◽  
Fabiana Tomé Ramos ◽  
Priscila Masquetto Vieira de Almeida
Keyword(s):  
World Health Organization ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Health Personnel ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
World Health ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Effective Strategy ◽  
The World ◽  
Health Organization

A Organização Mundial da Saúde - OMS confirmou a circulação internacional do novo Coronavírus em janeiro de 2020, nomeando-o como COVID-19 e, declarando uma pandemia. É de extrema importância que durante a pandemia, os profissionais de saúde tenham acesso e conhecimento sobre o uso correto dos Equipamentos de Proteção Individual (EPIs) e suas indicações, tomando assim, as devidas precauções na prevenção de infecções. O presente estudo buscou identificar a padronização mundial quanto ao uso dos EPIs utilizados no atendimento a pacientes suspeitos e/ou confirmados de COVID-19 no Brasil, EUA, China, Espanha, Itália e demais países europeus. Os guidelines apresentam a padronização quanto ao uso dos EPIs utilizados no atendimento a suspeitos e/ou confirmados de COVID-19, indo ao encontro das recomendações fornecidas pela OMS. Até o momento, o uso de EPIs é sem dúvida a estratégia mais importante e eficaz para proteger os profissionais de saúde durante a assistência ao paciente com COVID-19.Descritores: Infecções por Coronavírus, Equipamento de Proteção Individual, Pessoal de Saúde, Enfermagem. Recommendations for personal protective equipment to combat COVID-19Abstract: The World Health Organization - WHO confirmed the international circulation of the new Coronavirus in January 2020, naming it as COVID-19 and declaring a pandemic. It is extremely important that during the pandemic, health professionals have access and knowledge about the correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and its indications, thus taking appropriate precautions to prevent infections. The present study sought to identify the worldwide standardization regarding the use of PPE utilized to take care of suspected and confirmed patients with COVID-19 in Brazil, USA, China, Spain, Italy and other European countries. The guidelines present a standardization regarding the use of PPE utilized to take care of suspected and confirmed with COVID-19, in line with the recommendations provided by WHO. To date, the use of PPE is undoubtedly the most important and effective strategy to protect healthcare professionals during care for patients with COVID-19.Descriptors: Coronavirus Infections, Personal Protective Equipment, Health Personnel, Nursing. Recomendaciones para el equipo de protección personal para combatir COVID-19Resumen: La Organización Mundial de la Salud - La OMS confirmó la circulación internacional del nuevo Coronavirus en enero de 2020, nombrándolo COVID-19 y declarando una pandemia. Es extremadamente importante que durante la pandemia, los profesionales de la salud tengan acceso y conocimiento sobre el uso correcto del Equipo de Protección Personal (EPP) y sus indicaciones, tomando así las precauciones adecuadas para prevenir infecciones. El presente estudio buscó identificar la estandarización mundial con respecto al uso de EPP utilizado para atender a pacientes sospechosos y/o confirmados con COVID-19 en Brasil, Estados Unidos, China, España, Italia y otros países europeos. Las pautas presentan la estandarización con respecto al uso de EPP utilizado para cuidar COVID-19 sospechoso y/o confirmado, de acuerdo con las recomendaciones proporcionadas por la OMS. Hasta la fecha, el uso de EPP es, sin duda, la estrategia más importante y efectiva para proteger a los profesionales de la salud durante la atención de pacientes con COVID-19.Descriptores: Infecciones por Coronavirus, Equipo de Protección Personal, Personal de Salud, Enfermería.

New requirements for power frequency electric field and induced current personal protective equipment

2020 ◽  
Vol 60 (11) ◽  
pp. 849-852
Author(s):  
Sergey Yu. Perov ◽  
Tatyana A. Konshina ◽  
Elena N. Makarova-Zemlyanskaya
Keyword(s):  
Electric Field ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Safety Standards ◽  
Emergency Situations ◽  
Step Voltage ◽  
Power Frequency ◽  
Staff Protection ◽  
Frequency Electric Field

In conditions of exceeding the maximum permissible levels of power frequency electric field, the staff must use personal protective equipment. Requirements for such means are regulated by the system of occupational safety standards. The goal of this work is analyzed new requirements for power frequency and induced personal protective equipment in the regulatory interstate standards GOST 12.4.172 and GOST 12.4.283. The personal protective equipment new requirements for various types of work are substantiated to electrical personnel health safety during the maintenance and operation of power grid facilities. Increasing requirements for personal protective equipment improves the staff protection at ground potential and at wire potential, including in emergency situations such as induced and step voltage.

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