Case of COVID-19 in a 5-week-old baby

On 31 December 2019, the first case of COVID-19, was reported in Wuhan. A public health emergency of international concern was declared on 30 January 2020 and the first case in Scotland, on 2 March. The effect of COVID-19 appears to be less in the paediatric population and there are fewer cases reported in the literature in comparison to the adult population. Here, we report a case of a previously well 5-week-old infant who presented with fever and increased sleepiness. There was no known contact with any unwell individuals. COVID-19 was identified through a septic screen work up. The infant’s course was uneventful and she has made a full recovery. This case highlights the need to have a low index of suspicion in the diagnosis of COVID-19 and the need to be vigilant in use of personal protective equipment, even in paediatric patients with subtle symptoms.

Download Full-text

Impact of Clinician Personal Protective Equipment on Medical Device Use During Public Health Emergency: A Review

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ◽

10.1017/dmp.2019.52 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 273-283 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Hanniebey D. Wiyor ◽

James C. Coburn ◽

Karen L. Siegel

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Medical Device ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Clinical Training ◽

Public Health Emergency ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Clinical Procedures ◽

Public Health Emergency Response ◽

Device Use ◽

The Impact

ABSTRACTThe aim of this systematic review is to evaluate the impact of personal protective equipment (PPE) on medical device use during public health emergency responses. We conducted a systematic literature search of peer-reviewed journals in PubMed, Web of Science, and EBSCO databases. Twenty-nine of 92 articles published between 1984 and 2015 met the inclusion criteria for the review. Although many medical device use impacts were reported, they predominantly fell into 3 categories: airway management, drug administration, and diagnostics and monitoring. Chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN)-PPE increased completion times for emergency clinical procedures by as much as 130% and first attempt failure rates by 35% (anesthetist) versus 55% (non-anesthetist). Effects of CBRN-PPE use depend on device, CBRN-PPE level, and clinician experience and training. Continuous clinical training of responders in CBRN-PPE and device modifications can improve safety and effectiveness of medical device use during public health emergency response.

Download Full-text

Personal Protective Equipment Supply Chain: Lessons Learned from Recent Public Health Emergency Responses

Health Security ◽

10.1089/hs.2016.0129 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 244-252 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Anita Patel ◽

Maryann M. D'Alessandro ◽

Karen J. Ireland ◽

W. Greg Burel ◽

Elaine B. Wencil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Supply Chain ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Public Health Emergency ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Emergency Responses

Download Full-text

Precautions and Recommendations for Dental Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Journal of Dentists ◽

10.12974/2311-8695.2020.08.7 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 37-43

Author(s):

Téssia Melo ◽

◽

Poliana Costa ◽

Rafaela Medeiros ◽

Jorge Araújo-Filho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Clinical Practice ◽

Dental Care ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Health Professionals ◽

Public Health Emergency ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

International Public Health ◽

Dental Offices ◽

Need For Information

The COVID-19 disease pandemic, caused by the new Coronavirus (SARS-COV-2) that originated in Wuhan, China, is an international public health emergency. This disease represents a major challenge for all health professionals, including dentists and their staff. This moment has significantly changed the attendance and routine of dental offices, so there is a great need for information and the development of protocols for the guidance of professionals. This paper aims to systematize the recommendations for dentists’ clinical practice on biosafety and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), seeking to optimize dental care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Download Full-text

Paediatric Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH)—A Review

Life ◽

10.3390/life11070632 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (7) ◽

pp. 632

Author(s):

Andrew Malem ◽

Twishaa Sheth ◽

Brinda Muthusamy

Keyword(s):

Intracranial Hypertension ◽

Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension ◽

Adult Population ◽

Underlying Disease ◽

Diagnostic Process ◽

Paediatric Patients ◽

Disease Aetiology ◽

Sight Loss ◽

Chronic Headaches ◽

Work Up

Paediatric idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH), is a rare but important differential diagnosis in children presenting with papilloedema. It is characterised by raised intracranial pressure in the absence of an identifiable secondary structural or systemic cause and is, therefore, a diagnosis of exclusion. In the adult population, there is a strong predilection for the disease to occur in female patients who are obese. This association is also seen in paediatric patients with IIH but primarily in the post-pubertal cohort. In younger pre-pubertal children, this is not the case, possibly reflecting a different underlying disease aetiology and pathogenesis. Untreated IIH in children can cause significant morbidity from sight loss, chronic headaches, and the psychological effects of ongoing regular hospital monitoring, interventions, and medication. The ultimate goal in the management of paediatric IIH is to protect the optic nerve from papilloedema-induced optic neuropathy and thus preserve vision, whilst reducing the morbidity from other symptoms of IIH, in particular chronic headaches. In this review, we will outline the typical work-up and diagnostic process for paediatric patients with suspected IIH and how we manage these patients.

Download Full-text

Preparedness and response of a tertiary hospital to the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria: challenges, opportunities and lessons

Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene ◽

10.1093/trstmh/trab028 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Darlington E Obaseki ◽

Iriagbonse I Osaigbovo ◽

Esohe O Ogboghodo ◽

Omokhoa Adeleye ◽

Obehi A Akoria ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Tertiary Hospital ◽

Lessons Learned ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Scientific Journals ◽

Healthcare Facilities ◽

Public Health Agencies ◽

Health Agencies ◽

Individual Healthcare

Abstract Africa was the last continent to be affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of the discourse on Africa's response captured in scientific journals revolves around nations, public health agencies and organizations, but little is documented about how individual healthcare facilities have fared. This article reports the challenges faced in a tertiary hospital in Nigeria, including space constraints, diagnostic challenges, shortages in personal protective equipment and health worker infections. The opportunities and strengths that aided the response are also highlighted. The lessons learned will be useful to similar facilities. More information about health facility response at various levels is needed to comprehensively assess Africa's response to the pandemic.

Download Full-text

COVID – 19 related knowledge and preventive practices early in the outbreak among health care workers in selected public health facilities of Illu aba Bor and Buno Bedelle zones, Southwest Ethiopia

BMC Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1186/s12879-021-06218-0 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Dereje Tsegaye ◽

Muluneh Shuremu ◽

Dereje Oljira ◽

Sileshi Dubale ◽

Getachew Befekadu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Infection Prevention ◽

Health Facilities ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Southwest Ethiopia ◽

Preventive Practices ◽

Care Workers

Abstract Background Novel-coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) disease is currently a worldwide health risk and public health emergency concern. The virus is transmitted from an infected person to another person through close contact and droplets. Frontline health care workers are the most at risk of infection, and so a WHO interim guidance document was issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) which underscores the importance of proper sanitation and waste management practices for COVID- 19 in health-care settings. This study aimed at assessing knowledge and preventive practices towards Covid-19 among health care providers in selected health facilities of Illu Aba Bor and Buno Bedele zones, Southwest Ethiopia. Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted from April to May 2020 among 330 health workers in selected health facilities of Illu Aba Bor and Buno-Bedelle Zones, Southwest Ethiopia. Data were collected using a self-administered structured questionnaire. The collected data were entered into Epidata version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 23 for analysis. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors of preventive practices towards Covid-19. Statistical significance was declared at a p-value of < 0.05. Result The majority of respondents (93.3%) demonstrated good knowledge of COVID-19, and the mean (SD) knowledge score was 9.04 ± 1.06. Nearly two-thirds (64.2%) of the study participants had good infection prevention practices. Being male (AOR = 3.65, 95% CI: (1.96, 6.80)), education level (AOR = 1.82, 95% CI (1.02, 3.22)), profession (AOR = 3.17, 95% CI (1.08, 9.33)), service year (5–10 years) (AOR = 2.00 (1.02, 3.92)) and more than 10 years (AOR = 3.14 (1.51, 6.52)), availability of personal protective equipment (AOR = 1.96 (1.06, 3.61)) and Knowledge level (AOR = 2.61 (1.48, 4.62)) were independent predictors of COVID-19 preventive practices. Conclusion The overall level of knowledge of HCWs was good. However, the practice was relatively low. Gender, educational status, profession, year of service, knowledge towards COVID-19, and availability of personal protective equipment were independent predictors of good infection prevention practices. Optimizing the infection prevention and control loop of the health facilities is recommended.

Download Full-text

Using the Weibull distribution to model COVID-19 epidemic data

Model Assisted Statistics and Applications ◽

10.3233/mas-210510 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 5-14

Author(s):

Vitor Hugo Moreau

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Weibull Distribution ◽

Initial Phase ◽

Public Health Emergency ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Slowing Down ◽

Health Authorities ◽

Model Predictions ◽

Disease Epidemics ◽

Vaccination Campaigns

COVID-19 is a severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by the new Coronavirus. COVID-19 outbreak is a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, declared by WHO, that killed more than 2 million people worldwide. Since there are no specific drugs available and vaccination campaigns are in the initial phase, or even have not begun in some countries, the main way to fight the outbreak worldwide is still based on non-pharmacological strategies, such as the use of protective equipment, social isolation and mass testing. Modeling of the disease epidemics have gained pivotal importance to guide health authorities on the decision making and applying of those strategies. Here, we present the use of the Weibull distribution to model predictions of the COVID-19 outbreak based on daily new cases and deaths data, by non-linear regression using Metropolis-Markov Chain Monte Carlo simulations. It was possible to predict the evolution of daily new cases and deaths of COVID-19 in many countries as well as the overall number of cases and deaths in the future. Modeling predictions of COVID-19 pandemic may be of importance on the evaluation of governments and health authorities mitigation procedures, since it allows one to extract parameters that may help to guide those decisions and measures, slowing down the spread of the disease.

Download Full-text

South-east Asian Zika virus strain linked to cluster of cases in Singapore, August 2016

Eurosurveillance ◽

10.2807/1560-7917.es.2016.21.38.30347 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 21 (38) ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Sebastian Maurer-Stroh ◽

Tze-Minn Mak ◽

Yi-Kai Ng ◽

Shiau-Pheng Phuah ◽

Roland G Huber ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Phylogenetic Analysis ◽

Virus Strain ◽

Zika Virus ◽

East Asian ◽

Public Health Emergency ◽

Global Public Health ◽

Genome Sequences ◽

First Case ◽

Large Outbreak

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an ongoing global public health emergency with 70 countries and territories reporting evidence of ZIKV transmission since 2015. On 27 August 2016, Singapore reported its first case of local ZIKV transmission and identified an ongoing cluster. Here, we report the genome sequences of ZIKV strains from two cases and find through phylogenetic analysis that these strains form an earlier branch distinct from the recent large outbreak in the Americas.

Download Full-text

Modelling and analysis of COVID-19 epidemic in India

10.1101/2020.04.12.20062794 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Alok Tiwari

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Doubling Time ◽

Single Case ◽

World Health Organisation ◽

Public Health Emergency ◽

Positive Case ◽

World Health ◽

The Public ◽

First Case ◽

The World

ABSTRACTCOVID-19 epidemic is declared as the public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organisation in the second week of March 2020. This disease originated from China in December 2019 has already caused havoc around the world, including India. The first case in India was reported on 30th January 2020, with the cases crossing 6000 on the day paper was written. Complete lockdown of the nation for 21 days and immediate isolation of infected cases are the proactive steps taken by the authorities. For a better understanding of the evolution of COVID-19 in the country, Susceptible-Infectious-Quarantined-Recovered (SIQR) model is used in this paper. It is predicted that actual infectious population is ten times the reported positive case (quarantined) in the country. Also, a single case can infect 1.55 more individuals of the population. Epidemic doubling time is estimated to be around 4.1 days. All indicators are compared with Brazil and Italy as well. SIQR model has also predicted that India will see the peak with 22,000 active cases during the last week of April followed by reduction in active cases. It may take complete July for India to get over with COVID-19.

Download Full-text

Progress of COVID-19 Epidemic in Pakistan

Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1177/1010539520927259 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 32 (4) ◽

pp. 154-156 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Khadijah Abid ◽

Yashfika Abdul Bari ◽

Maryam Younas ◽

Sehar Tahir Javaid ◽

Abira Imran

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

World Health Organization ◽

Short Communication ◽

Health Sector ◽

Public Health Emergency ◽

World Health ◽

First Case ◽

The World ◽

Health Organization ◽

Shed Light

The outbreak of corona virus initiated as pneumonia of unknown cause in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, which has been now spreading rapidly out of Wuhan to other countries. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared coronavirus outbreak as the sixth public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), and on March 11, 2020, the WHO announced coronavirus as pandemic. Coronavirus is thought to be increasing in Pakistan. The first case of coronavirus was reported from Karachi on February 26, 2020, with estimated populace of Pakistan as 204.65 million. Successively, the virus spreads into various regions nationwide and has currently become an epidemic. The WHO has warned Pakistan that the country could encounter great challenge against the outbreak of coronavirus in the coming days. This short communication is conducted to shed light on the epidemic of coronavirus in the country. It would aid in emphasizing the up-to-date situation in a nutshell and the measures taken by the health sector of Pakistan to abate the risk of communication.

Download Full-text