scholarly journals Using portable air purifiers to reduce airborne transmission of infectious respiratory viruses - a computational fluid dynamics study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liwei Guo ◽  
Ryo Torii ◽  
Ruth Epstein ◽  
John Rubin ◽  
Jonathan P Reid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Respiratory Viruses ◽  
Mitigation Strategy ◽  
Cfd Modelling ◽  
Airborne Transmission ◽  
Air Purifier ◽  
Set Up

Aerosols and droplets generated from expiratory events play a critical role in the transmission of infectious respiratory viruses. Increasingly robust evidence has suggested the crucial role of fine aerosols in airborne transmission of respiratory diseases, which is now widely regarded as an important transmission path of COVID-19. In this report, we used CFD modelling to investigate the efficiency of using portable air purifiers containing HEPA filters to reduce airborne aerosols in hospitals and serve as a potential retrofit mitigation strategy. We used a consulting room to set up our simulations because currently the clearance time between consultations is the controlling factor that limits the patient turnover rate. The results suggest the inlet/suction of the air purifier unit should be lifted above the floor to achieve better clearance efficiency, with up to 40% improvement possible. If multiple air purifiers are used, the combined efficiency can increase to 62%. This work provides practical guidance on a mitigation strategy that can be easily implemented in an expedient, cost-effective and rapid manner, and paves the way for developing more science-informed strategies to mitigate the airborne transmission of respiratory infections in hospitals.

Selling the role of salvage: Cell salvage past and present

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (11) ◽  
pp. 336-339
Author(s):  
Lucy Godfrey
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Emergency Situation ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
The Body ◽  
Cell Salvage ◽  
Autologous Transfusion ◽  
Allogenic Transfusion ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Meta Analyses

The use of transfused blood, be it from an allogenic (donor) or autologous (same patient) source, is not a new treatment and in fact has been experimented with since the mid 1800s. The role of cell salvage and re-infusion of a patient’s own blood, however, has only begun to gain real popularity in the last 20 years, after the undertaking of several large scale meta-analyses which have shown that not only is autologous transfusion no less efficacious when compared to allogenic transfusion, but also potentially safer for a number of reasons. Autologous transfusion is also more cost effective overall and potentially quicker to initiate in an emergency situation. Despite the body of evidence to support the use of salvaged blood for transfusion, hesitation around its use still persists, with staff apprehension around set up of cell salvage equipment and general underestimation of intraoperative blood loss being key factors in its underuse.

scholarly journals Seasonal Coronaviruses and Other Neglected Respiratory Viruses: A Global Perspective and a Local Snapshot

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunčanica Ljubin-Sternak ◽  
Tomislav Meštrović ◽  
Ivana Lukšić ◽  
Maja Mijač ◽  
Jasmina Vraneš
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Disease Burden ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Respiratory Viruses ◽  
Global Perspective ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Virological Diagnosis ◽  
Tract Infections

Respiratory viral infections are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the world; however, there are several groups of viruses that are insufficiently routinely sought for, and can thus be considered neglected from a diagnostic and clinical standpoint. Timely detection of seasonality of certain respiratory viruses (e.g., enveloped viruses such as seasonal coronaviruses) in the local context can aid substantially in targeted and cost-effective utilization of viral diagnostic approaches. For the other, non-enveloped and year-round viruses (i.e., rhinovirus, adenovirus, and bocavirus), a continuous virological diagnosis needs to be implemented in clinical laboratories to more effectively address the aetiology of respiratory infections, and assess the overall impact of these viruses on disease burden. While the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is still actively unfolding, we aimed to emphasize the persistent role of seasonal coronaviruses, rhinoviruses, adenoviruses and bocaviruses in the aetiology of respiratory infections. Consequently, this paper concentrates on the burden and epidemiological trends of aforementioned viral groups on a global level, but also provides a snapshot of their prevalence patterns in Croatia in order to underscore the potential implications of viral seasonality. An overall global prevalence in respiratory tract infections was found to be between 0.5 and 18.4% for seasonal coronaviruses, between 13 and 59% for rhinoviruses, between 1 and 36% for human adenoviruses, and between 1 and 56.8% for human bocaviruses. A Croatian dataset on patients with respiratory tract infection and younger than 18 years of age has revealed a fairly high prevalence of rhinoviruses (33.4%), with much lower prevalence of adenoviruses (15.6%), seasonal coronaviruses (7.1%), and bocaviruses (5.3%). These insights represent a relevant discussion point in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic where the testing of non-SARS-CoV-2 viruses has been limited in many settings, making the monitoring of disease burden associated with other respiratory viruses rather difficult.

Leveraging Social Media in Facilitating Women Entrepreneurs in India

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-90
Author(s):  
Madhura Manish Bedarkar ◽  
Mahima Mishra ◽  
Ritesh Ashok Khatwani
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Women Entrepreneurs ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Psychological Benefits ◽  
Study Approach ◽  
Self Confidence ◽  
Social Media Platforms ◽  
Set Up

This article explores the role of social media in facilitating women entrepreneurs in India. It adopts a case study approach to explore the effectiveness of social media platforms in supporting women entrepreneurs. PULA (Pune Ladies), a closed Facebook Group, set up in 2015 for women in Pune, was selected as a case study. Fifteen in-depth interviews were conducted among 15 active women entrepreneurs of this group to explore the benefits received in terms of visibility, marketing opportunities, revenue generation, psychological benefits (sense of belongingness, self-confidence, motivation), and counselling to name a few. Their responses were analyzed for commonalities and divergences. The article finds that PULA not only offers a cost-effective platform for women entrepreneurs to showcase their products/services but also helps them in enhancing the visibility and financial performance of their businesses. The findings of this study will guide women entrepreneurs in leveraging social media platforms through greater visibility, networking and marketing their products/ services more efficiently.

scholarly journals Rola terenowej administracji publicznej w zapobieganiu sytuacjom kryzysowym

2016 ◽  
Vol 106 ◽  
pp. 123-134
Author(s):  
Andrzej Pakuła
Keyword(s):  
Public Administration ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Specific Area ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
Government District ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The One ◽  
Executive Officers ◽  
Council Of Ministers

THE ROLE OF LOCAL PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION IN PREVENTING CRISIS SITUATIONSCrisis management is a specific area of public safety protection. Competent authorities in this area include on the one hand, Council of Ministers and on the other, territorial local authorities belonging both to local administration voivodes and local government district governors and municipal executive officers/town mayors/city presidents. The territorial local authorities play a critical role here as they are a specific structure set up for crisis management.

scholarly journals A role of respiratory infections in exacerbations of asthma

2007 ◽  
pp. 14-18
Author(s):  
A. G. Chuchalin ◽  
T. P. Ospelnikova ◽  
G. L. Osipova ◽  
N. V. Lizogub ◽  
V. B. Gervazieva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycoplasma Pneumoniae ◽  
Viral Infections ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Direct Detection ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Respiratory Viruses ◽  
Chlamydophila Pneumoniae ◽  
Atopic Asthma ◽  
Interferon System

Nineteen patients aged 18–65 years with moderate and severe exacerbations of atopic asthma were examined for respiratory viruses, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, and Chlamydophila pneumoniae. Interferon system, IL-4 and γ-IFN serum levels were also investigated. Viral infections (RS-virus, adenovirus, influenza types A (H1N1, H3N2) and B viruses, parainfluenza types 1 and 3 viruses) were diagnosed serologically or using PCR with direct detection of viral nucleic acids in 73.6 % of the patients. Diagnostic level of Mycoplasma pneumoniae antigen was found in 78.9 % of the patients, anti-Chlamydophila pneumoniae antibodies were detected in 31.6 %. Leukocyte interferon-producing function was decreased in all the patients.

scholarly journals Airborne Transmission via HVAC of Acute Respiratory Infections in Military Facilities? Review of a Basic Training Cohort Study

2009 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 114-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liv Haselbach ◽  
James Hussey ◽  
Charles E Feigley ◽  
James R Hebert ◽  
Duvel W White ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
The United States ◽  
Hvac Systems ◽  
Acute Respiratory Infections ◽  
Basic Training ◽  
Airborne Transmission ◽  
Indirect Contact ◽  
Contact Transmission ◽  
Military Facilities

There is great interest in preventing the spread of acute respiratory infections (ARI) in military housing and in other facilities with multiple occupants such as hospitals. There has been some research on the mode of transmission of ARIs in these types of occupancies, with several studies focusing on direct and indirect contact. This study, based on several barracks at the largest basic training facility for the Army in the United States, investigates the role of airborne transmission via heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems as compared to a combination of airborne, indirect contact and direct contact transmission in a room. The results indicate that there is a significant increase in the number of cases which might be attributable to airborne transmission via HVAC systems in several situations, both for ARIs that required hospitalization, and those which did not.

scholarly journals Nutrition strategy for patients under conditions of the coronavirus infection pandemic (SARS-COV-2)

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 13-17
Author(s):  
Anna V. Turusheva
Keyword(s):  
Nutritional Status ◽  
Immune Function ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Mitigation Strategy ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Coronavirus Infection ◽  
Diet And Lifestyle ◽  
Nutrition Strategy

In this review, we discuss about nutritional status and the role of diet and lifestyle in patients with SARS-COV-2 infection. This review speculates the importance of nutrition as a mitigation strategy to support immune function amid the coronavirus pandemic, identifying food groups and key nutrients of importance that may affect the outcomes of respiratory infections.

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