scholarly journals Bundled interventions for consumption management and monitoring of personal protective equipment in COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong local hospitals

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. e000990
Author(s):  
Wai-Man Kwan ◽  
Chun-Keung Mok ◽  
Yick-Ting Kwok ◽  
Hon-Wai Lam ◽  
Kwan-Ho Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Distribution Centre ◽  
Individual Unit ◽  
Operating Theatres ◽  
Consumption Rates ◽  
Set Up

Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in December 2019, there had been global shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) supply due to the breakage of supply chain and also the forbidding of PPE exported by various countries. This situation had greatly affected the healthcare services in local hospitals of Hong Kong. To maintain the availability of PPE for healthcare workers in high-risk clinical settings, the cluster management of New Territories West Cluster, Hospital Authority, had implemented a bundle of interventions in controlling and managing the PPE consumption and ensuring its proper use. A Taskforce on Management of PPE was set up in February 2020 with the aim to monitor and manage the use of PPE in five local hospitals and eight general outpatient clinics of New Territories West Cluster, which were governed in a cluster basis, under the COVID-19 epidemic. Interventions including cutting down non-essential services, implementing telecare, monitoring PPE consumption at unit level and PPE stock at the Cluster Central Distribution Centre and forming mobile infection teams were implemented. The updated PPE standards and usage guidelines to clinical staff were promulgated through forums, newsletters and unit visits. The PPE consumption rates of individual unit were reviewed. Significant decrease in PPE consumption rates was noted when comparing with the baseline data. Comparing the data between 20 February and 1 June 2020, the overall PPE consumption rates were reduced by 64% (r=−0.841; p<0.001) while the PPE consumption rates in anaesthesia and operating theatres, and isolation and surveillance wards were reduced by 47% (r=−0.506; p=0.023) and 49% (r=−0.810; p<0.001), respectively. A bundled approach, including both administrative measures and staff education, is effective in managing PPE consumption during major infection outbreaks especially when PPE supply is at risk.

scholarly journals Practices of Healthcare Workers regarding Infection Prevention in Bale Zone Hospitals, Southeast Ethiopia

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Demisu Zenbaba ◽  
Biniyam Sahiledengle ◽  
Daniel Bogale
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Simple Random Sampling ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Good Knowledge ◽  
Work Place ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Bale Zone

Introduction. In Ethiopia, infection prevention to protect patients, healthcare workers, and visitors from healthcare-acquired infections is one of a number of nationwide transformational initiatives to ensure the provision of quality healthcare services. The aim of this research was to assess the practice of healthcare workers regarding infection prevention and its associated factors in Bale zone Hospitals. Methods. A cross-sectional study targeted 402 healthcare workers using simple random sampling to learn about their practices related to infection prevention. Data were collected in interviews using pretested, structured questionnaires. Returned questionnaires were checked for completeness and then data were entered into a database and analyzed using SPSS Version 20. Adjusted odd ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval was calculated to determine the strength of association, and variables with a p value <0.05 in the final model were considered as statistically significant. Results. Three hundred ninety-four healthcare workers participated in the study. Of these; 145 (36.8%, 95% CI 32, 42%) of them were found to have self-reported good infection prevention practice. Good knowledge towards infection prevention (AOR = 1.84, 95% CI 1.02, 3.31), availability of personal protective equipment (AOR = 1.96, 95% CI 1.16, 3.32), and water (AOR = 4.42, 95% 2.66, 7.34) at workplace were found to have a statistically significant association with healthcare workers self-reported good infection prevention practices. Conclusions. In this study, slightly more than one-third of the healthcare workers reported to have good infection prevention practice. Good knowledge towards infection prevention, working in departments, availability of personal protective equipment, and water at work place were found to have statistically significant association with self-reported good infection prevention practices.

scholarly journals COVID-19 Pandemisinde Enfeksiyon Kontrol Çalışmaları Çerçevesinde Çocuk Hastalarla Çalışan Sağlık Personeli Eğitimi

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 195-200
Author(s):  
Pembe Derin Oygar ◽  
Ayşe Büyükçam ◽  
Zümrüt Şahbudak Bal ◽  
Nazan Dalgıç ◽  
Şefika Elmas Bozdemir ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Great Risk ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Pediatric Patients ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Emerging Pathogens ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Applied Education

Objective: In the early stages of any epidemic caused by new emerging pathogens healthcare personnel is subject to a great risk. Pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2, proved to be no exception. Many healthcare workers died in the early stages of pandemic due to inadequate precautions and insufficient protection. It is essential to protect and maintain the safety of healthcare personnel for the confinement of pandemic as well as continuity of qualified healthcare services which is already under strain. Educating healthcare personnel on appropiate use of personal protective equipment (PPE) is as essential as procuring them. Material and Methods: A survey is conducted on 4927 healthcare personnel working solely with pediatric patients from 32 different centers. Education given on PPE usage were questioned and analyzed depending on age, sex, occupation and region. Results: Among four thousand nine hundred twelve healthcare personnel from 32 different centers 91% (n= 4457) received education on PPE usage. Of those who received education only 36% was given both theoretical and applied education. Although there was no differences among different occupation groups, receiving education depended on regions. Conclusion: It is essential to educate healthcare personnel appropiately nationwidely for the continuity of qualified healthcare services during the pandemic.

scholarly journals The ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ of personal protective equipment during the COVID-19 pandemic: the ethics of emerging inequalities amongst healthcare workers

2021 ◽  
pp. medethics-2021-107501
Author(s):  
Clifford Shelton ◽  
Kariem El-Boghdadly ◽  
John B Appleby
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Healthcare Setting ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Practical Action ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
Healthcare Workforce ◽  
Pandemic Planning ◽  
Operating Theatres

The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated inequalities, including among the healthcare workforce. Based on recent literature and drawing on our experiences of working in operating theatres and critical care in the UK’s National Health Service during the pandemic, we review the role of personal protective equipment and consider the ethical implications of its design, availability and provision at a time of unprecedented demand. Several important inequalities have emerged, driven by factors such as individuals purchasing their own personal protective equipment (either out of choice or to address a lack of provision), inconsistencies between guidelines issued by different agencies and organisations, and the standardised design and procurement of equipment required to protect a diverse healthcare workforce. These, we suggest, have resulted largely because of a lack of appropriate pandemic planning and coordination, as well as insufficient appreciation of the significance of equipment design for the healthcare setting. As with many aspects of the pandemic, personal protective equipment has created and revealed inequalities driven by economics, gender, ethnicity and professional influence, creating a division between the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots’ of personal protective equipment. As the healthcare workforce continues to cope with ongoing waves of COVID-19, and with the prospect of more pandemics in the future, it is vital that these inequalities are urgently addressed, both through academic analysis and practical action.

scholarly journals Hospital care in Departments defined as COVID-free: A proposal for a safe hospitalization protecting healthcare professionals and patients not affected by COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 92 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rosario Leonardi ◽  
Piera Bellinzoni ◽  
Luigi Broglia ◽  
Renzo Colombo ◽  
Davide De Marchi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Operating Room ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Outpatient Care ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Care Process ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Administrative Staff ◽  
Process Of Care ◽  
Waiting Room

The COVID-19 pandemic influenced the normal course of clinical practice leading to significant delays in the delivery of healthcare services for patients non affected by COVID-19. In the near future, it will be crucial to identify facilities capable of providing health care in compliance with the safety of healthcare professionals, administrative staff and patients. All the staff involved in the project of a Covid-free hospital should be subjected to a diagnostic swab for COVID-19 before the beginning of healthcare activity and then periodically in order to avoid the risk of contamination of patients during the process of care. The modifications of various activities involved in the process of care are described: outpatient care, reception of inpatients, inpatient ward and operating room. For outpatient care, modality of appointment procedure, characteristics of waiting room and personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare professionals and administrative staff are presented. Reception of inpatients shall be conditional on a negative swab for COVID-19 obtained with a drive-in procedure. The management of the operating room represents the most crucial step of the patient's care process. The surgical team should be restricted and monitored with periodic swabs; surgical procedures should be performed by experienced surgeons according to standard procedures; surgical training experimental treatments and research protocols should be suspended. Adequate personal protective equipment and measures to reduce aerosolization in the operating room (closed circuits, continuous cycle insufflators, fume extraction) should be adopted. Prevention of possible transmission of the virus during procedures in open, laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery is to use a multi-tactic approach, which includes correct filtration and ventilation of the operating room, the use of appropriate PPE (FFP3 plus surgical mask and protective visor for all the staff working in the operating room) and smoke evacuation devices with a suction and filter system.   on behalf of the UrOP Executive CommitteeGiuseppe Ludovico, Angelo Cafarelli, Ottavio De Cobelli, Ferdinando De Marco, Giovanni Ferrari, Stefano Pecoraro, Angelo Porreca, Domenico Tuzzolo

scholarly journals Impact of the first phase of COVID-19 pandemic on childhood routine immunisation services in Nepal: a qualitative study on the perspectives of service providers and users

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Asmita Priyadarshini Khatiwada ◽  
Smriti Maskey ◽  
Nistha Shrestha ◽  
Sunil Shrestha ◽  
Saval Khanal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Childhood Immunisation ◽  
Routine Immunisation ◽  
Services Delivery ◽  
Immunisation Service

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected all essential healthcare services delivery in low-resource settings. This study aimed to explore the challenges and experiences of providers and users of childhood immunisation services in Nepal during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with childhood immunisation service providers and users (i.e., parents of children) from Kathmandu valley, Nepal. All interviews were conducted through phone or internet-based tools, such as Zoom, WhatsApp, and messenger. All interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using theme-based content analysis in an Excel spreadsheet. Results A total of 15 participants (n = 7 service providers and n = 8 service users) participated. Six themes were identified, namely: (1) impact of COVID-19 and lockdown on childhood immunisation services; (2) motivation and resilience for childhood immunisation; (3) Biosafety practices and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) availability during the COVID-19 pandemic; (4) service adjustments and guidelines during pandemic; (5) availability of vaccines; and (6) immunisation program resilience in view of COVID-19. Service providers mentioned facing disruptions in services and some parents had decided to delay scheduled immunisation. However, most service providers showed determinations to deliver the services with high morale, while most service users reported taking their children for immunisation. Families migrating from urban to rural areas during the pandemic led to service providers having no means to confirm complete immunisation of migrating children. Service providers also experienced lack of adequate guidance to deal with the pandemic and personal protective equipment to protect themselves and service users. Conclusion Despite experiencing disruptions in childhood immunisation service due to the COVID-19 pandemic, service users and providers were determined to vaccinate the children. There is an urgent need for effective preparedness plans to be in place to address the observed barriers and to ensure resilient immunisation services during ongoing and future pandemics.

scholarly journals How Our Healthcare System Failed During the SARS Outbreak

2018 ◽  
pp. 23-24
Author(s):  
Bianca Colarossi
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Hong Kong ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Disease Control ◽  
Healthcare System ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Infectious Disease Control ◽  
Call To Action

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) was an active pandemic in the spring of 2003, ravaging places such as Hong Kong and Canada. In Ontario, the healthcare system was extremely unprepared, hence resulting in a multitude of deaths, in which many were healthcare professionals. In contrast, Vancouver took the necessary precautions leading up to the outbreak, and the benefits of this can be seen in their low death toll. In the future, the Ontario healthcare system needs to learn from these mistakes by preparing personal protective equipment and educating healthcare professionals on proper infectious disease control protocol. This is a call to action for the Ontario healthcare system.

scholarly journals OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY OF HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN COVID 19: A RISING CONCERN IN INDIA

2021 ◽  
pp. 2866-2870
Author(s):  
Waqar M. Naqvi
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Providers ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Emotional Strain

The COVID-19 pandemic has put a strain on healthcare services all over the world. With the rising range of healthcare providers diagnosed with COVID globally and with the second wave in India, the crisis has gained global attention and assistance. The healthcare system in India is under strain, putting frontline healthcare staff on edge. Long and exhausting work hours, quickly depleting supplies of personal protective equipment, day-to-night news reports of COVID-19 statistics, inadequate availability of particular drugs, and insufficient societal assistance may all lead to the additional emotional strain of these HCWs. Depression, anxiety, insomnia, and stress are very prevalent among HCWs. Employed in the high-risk division like infectious disorder and pulmonology, and to see a family member that has been diagnosed, deficient or inadequate hand hygiene before and after interaction with patients, insufficient PPE, direct patient interaction (12 times a day), long daily contact hours (15 hrs), and uncontrolled exposure were all linked to COVID-19 risk among Health Care Workers. Working with COVID-19 has demonstrated the interdependence of various components of the work system, such as personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, monitoring equipment, staffing, work setting, and so on. Healthcare workers should also implement a detailed ‘infectious disease preparedness and recovery strategy' to train and protect staff before and after a pandemic. Workers must be closely watched, supported, and, when possible, supplied with evidence-based practice after the crisis has passed.

scholarly journals POLICIES AND REGULATIONS

2001 ◽  
Vol 05 (04) ◽  
pp. 76-78
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Education System ◽  
Healthcare Services ◽  
Expert Committee ◽  
Set Up

Expert Committee Set Up to Review Singapore's Education System. China Tightens Control of Drug Advertisements. Hong Kong Healthcare Services May be Regulated. India May Allow 100% FDI in Pharmaceuticals. NZ Court to Rule on GE Research. NZ Checks Tomatoes for Viroid.

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