Evaluation of a SARS-CoV-2 Capture IgM Antibody Assay in Convalescent Sera

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has inflicted tremendous loss of lives, overwhelmed health care systems, and disrupted all aspects of life worldwide since its emergence in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Detecting current and past infection by PCR or serology is important to understanding and controlling SARS-CoV-2.

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Pregnancy management in coronavirus disease – Challenges in developing countries

10.25259/jrhm_58_2020 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

pp. 18

Author(s):

Narendra Malhotra ◽

Ruchika Garg ◽

Saroj Singh ◽

Prabhat Agrawal ◽

Jaideep Malhotra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Developing Countries ◽

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Hubei Province ◽

The World ◽

Care Systems ◽

The Usa

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infection, first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, a city in the Hubei Province of China. The infection has spread in more than 150 countries and is a pandemic. Governments across the world have adopted rigorous measures to reduce both the spread by lockdown and cancelling most visas. It has detrimental effects on health-care systems and on the whole economy of world including the USA.

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A cohort-based emergency plan to maintain functionality in a clinical laboratory during the 2020 COVID-19 epidemic outbreak

Journal of Laboratory Medicine ◽

10.1515/labmed-2020-0035 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 44 (3) ◽

pp. 113-115

Author(s):

Gerhard Pütz ◽

Manuela Müller ◽

Karl Winkler

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Critical Care ◽

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Clinical Laboratory ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Emergency Planning ◽

Epidemic Outbreak ◽

Emergency Plan ◽

Model Calculations ◽

Care Systems

Abstract Objectives Clinical laboratory analyses are essential part of critical care. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)/coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-confirmed cases were doubling in Germany every 3 days during March 2020. Health care systems are preparing for an epidemic crisis. Methods We outline a cohort-based emergency planning. The plan is based on three independent self-sufficient cohorts that maintain duty for 7 days, followed by quarantine-like rest for 14 days. COVID-19-infected and otherwise ill personnel will be replaced by a tactical reserve, which is again replaced by recovered staff. Results We switched to the outlined system when incidence of confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassed 50/100,000 residents. Our parameter spectrum was reduced to the essential analyses in agreement with our clinical colleagues. So far the system works well. In model calculations, the system is robust to maintain essential laboratory functionality even when incidence of COVID-19 is higher than that currently observed in the most severely hit countries. Conclusions We outline a cohort-based emergency planning to maintain essential functionality of a clinical laboratory while minimizing the risk of spreading infection with COVID-19 among our workforce during the COVID-19 epidemic faced in 2020.

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Impact of COVID-19 on Lung Transplant Activity in Germany—A Cross-Sectional Survey

The Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgeon ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1715436 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sebastian Michel ◽

Christian Witt ◽

Jens Gottlieb ◽

Clemens Aigner

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Patient Safety ◽

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Lung Transplant ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Time Frame ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Variable Extent ◽

Care Systems

AbstractThe current COVID-19 pandemia affects health care systems worldwide, however, to a variable extent depending on the caseload in each country. We aimed to provide a cross-sectional overview of current limitations or adaptions in lung transplant programs in Germany in from January to May 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemia caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. A cross-sectional survey assessing various aspects of lung transplant activity was sent to all active lung transplant programs (n = 12) in Germany. Eight centers (66%) responded to the survey within the requested time frame. Four centers (50%) reported their activity is not restricted at all and four centers (50%) reported on moderate general limitations. The overall lung transplant activity in Germany from January to May 2020 contains 128 bilateral and 11 single lung transplantations, which is similar to the same period in the year 2019 (126 bilateral transplantations and 12 single lung transplantations). The results suggest that the influence of the COVID-19 pandemia on lung transplantation activity in Germany has been moderate so far. Nevertheless, adaptions such as extensive testing of donors and recipients were introduced to reduce the likelihood of infections and increase patient safety. Alertness to changes in COVID-19 reproduction rates might be required until effective antiviral therapy or vaccination is available.

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Recommendations for Gynecological Endoscopic Surgery during COVID-19 Pandemic

Indian Journal of Cardiovascular Disease in Women WINCARS ◽

10.1055/s-0040-1716818 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (03) ◽

pp. 239-242

Author(s):

Amrutha Kakollu ◽

Anupama Hari

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Laparoscopic Surgery ◽

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Endoscopic Surgery ◽

Health Care Professionals ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Viral Transmission ◽

Gas Leakage ◽

Use Of Resources ◽

Care Systems

AbstractThe presence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to overwhelm health-care systems with numerous concerns around the safety of patients as well as health-care professionals. It is essential to allow for judicious use of resources and emphasize allotting maximum staff and resources to care for the affected. To this end, most centers are choosing to defer elective procedures and perform only emergency surgeries. The safety of all theater staff is of utmost importance, and the risks of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral transmission should be curbed when operating. In particular, there are concerns relating to the transmission of COVID-19 during gynecological laparoscopic surgery, arising from the possible generation of contaminated aerosols from gas leakage and the creation of smoke from the use of electrosurgical devices. The aim of this paper is to review the evidence available as of today for recommendations to follow while performing gynecological procedures.

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Impact of Smoking on Women During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Frontiers in Medicine ◽

10.3389/fmed.2021.584061 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Florin Dumitru Mihaltan ◽

Armand-Gabriel Rajnoveanu ◽

Ruxandra-Mioara Rajnoveanu

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Health Care ◽

Risk Factor ◽

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽

Health Effects ◽

Health Care Systems ◽

Male Gender ◽

Point Of View ◽

Care Systems ◽

Important Challenge

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) brought in 2020 an important challenge for health-care systems and authorities. Smoking and its influence on this disease remain, after months of the pandemic, one of the debatable risk factors. From the literature point of view, the focus of most articles is on smoking as a possible general risk factor for all analyzed populations. Women tend to represent a more significant population in exposed occupations. In our mini-review, we try to dig deeper, looking for gender-related health effects of smoking in this pandemic context, its effects on the infection with this novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), on illness severity, and on the rate of hospitalization and mortality. Despite the fact that the male gender is reported in many articles as a predictor of a poor outcome, we suggest that further research is needed to confirm or deny these relationships. Moreover, studies focusing specifically on women in these study populations are required.

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