The effects of COVID-19 litter on animal life

Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is massively used, resulting in a new wave of litter: protective face masks and gloves. Here we present the first case of a fish entrapped in a medical glove, encountered during a canal clean-up in Leiden, The Netherlands. We also report the first cases of birds using medical face masks as nesting material, which were also found in the Dutch canals. To place these new findings in context, we collected online reported interactions of animals with PPE litter, since the start of the pandemic. This resulted in the first overview of cases of entanglement, entrapment and ingestion of COVID-19 litter by animals and the use of it as nesting material. We signal COVID-19 litter as a new threat to animal life as the materials designed to keep us safe are actually harming animals around us. To understand the full scale of this problem, we welcome anyone to contribute to our overview by submitting their observations online at www.covidlitter.com. To further prevent PPE litter, it is recommended that, when possible, reusable alternatives are used.

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Effectiveness of Personal Protective Equipment and Oseltamivir Prophylaxis during Avian Influenza A (H7N7) Epidemic, the Netherlands, 2003

Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽

10.3201/eid1610.091412 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 16 (10) ◽

pp. 1562-1568 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Dennis E. te Beest ◽

Michiel van Boven ◽

Marian E.H. Bos ◽

Arjan Stegeman ◽

Marion P.G. Koopmans

Keyword(s):

The Netherlands ◽

Avian Influenza ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Influenza A ◽

Protective Equipment

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Confronting COVID-19 - The case of PPE and Medical Devices production using Digital Fabrication at PUC-Rio

Strategic Design Research Journal ◽

10.4013/sdrj.2020.133.15 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 488-501

Author(s):

Jorge Roberto Lopes Dos Santos ◽

João Victor Correia de Melo ◽

Leonardo Frajhof ◽

Aline Reis Kauffmann

Keyword(s):

Medical Devices ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Laser Cutting ◽

Digital Fabrication ◽

Disease Spread ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Academic Environment ◽

Construction Of Knowledge ◽

First Case ◽

The City

At the end of 2019, the first cases of COVID-19 were registered. As the disease spread across continents culminating in a pandemic, countries suffered from a shortage of personal protective equipment. In Brazil, the first case was recorded on February 2020. This study aims to describe the experience of creating an interinstitutional network to meet the pandemic’s demands and the experience of transforming an academic design laboratory into space for the production of personal protective equipment using 3D printing and laser cutting techniques. The actions described in this study, made it possible to meet the high emergency demand for PPE in the city of Rio de Janeiro, as well as the construction of knowledge both within the scope of building networks to solve complex social problems and about the possibilities of production in an academic environment. The work addresses and reflexes this action on society's perception of Design professionals.

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

BMJ Case Reports ◽

10.1136/bcr-2020-236330 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. e236330

Author(s):

Rachael Fleming ◽

Rosemary Grattan ◽

Kristyna Bohmova

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Adult Population ◽

Paediatric Population ◽

Public Health Emergency ◽

Full Recovery ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Paediatric Patients ◽

First Case ◽

Work Up

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.

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Telemedicine in Times of the Pandemic Produced by COVID-19: Implementation of a Teleconsultation Protocol in a Hospital Emergency Department

Healthcare ◽

10.3390/healthcare8040357 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 8 (4) ◽

pp. 357

Author(s):

Antonio Lopez-Villegas ◽

Salvador Maroto-Martin ◽

Miguel Angel Baena-Lopez ◽

Antonio Garzon-Miralles ◽

Rafael Jesús Bautista-Mesa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Respiratory Symptoms ◽

Emergency Service ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Hospital Emergency ◽

Respiratory Problems ◽

Hospital Emergency Service ◽

First Case ◽

Asymptomatic Patients ◽

Efficient Consumption

Since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in Spain, almost 22% of healthcare professionals have been infected. Among the main causes are exposure during the care of suspected patients and asymptomatic patients, which caused a greater lack of protection in some cases, and to the global shortage of personal protective equipment due to the strong demand for it. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a teleconsultation protocol with patients who had respiratory symptoms in the reduction of the consumption of personal protective equipment (PPE) in a hospital emergency service (HES) during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is a descriptive and retrospective study that analyzes the implementation of a teleconsultation protocol with patients with respiratory problems treated in the HES at the Hospital de Poniente (Almeria), between 18 March and 30 April 2020. In the selected study period, 5353 patients were treated in the HES of the Hospital de Poniente; of these, 15.43% showed respiratory symptoms and were referred to the Respiratory Circuit, of which 42.2% did so via teleconsultation. Sixty-six cases of COVID-19 were diagnosed, 57.6% were male, and the median age was 71 years old. The main disease related was pneumonia (89.4%), symptoms more frequent were cough (77.3%), fever (77.3%), and dyspnea (60.6%). Lastly, 56.1% of the patients that attended had one or more comorbidities, high blood pressure (53%), and diabetes (36.4%), which became the main risk factors. The results showed that the implementation of teleconsultation in the HES reduced the possibility of infection and allowed for a more efficient consumption of personal protective equipment.

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Surgical Site Infection after Cesarean Delivery in Times of COVID-19

Revista Brasileira de Ginecologia e Obstetrícia / RBGO Gynecology and Obstetrics ◽

10.1055/s-0041-1729144 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 43 (05) ◽

pp. 374-376

Author(s):

Vicente Sperb Antonello ◽

Jessica Dallé ◽

Ivan Carlos Ferreira Antonello ◽

Daniela Benzano ◽

Mauro Cunha Ramos

Keyword(s):

Surgical Site Infection ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Direct Consequence ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Site Infection ◽

Cesarean Sections ◽

Porto Alegre ◽

First Case ◽

Before And After ◽

Reference Service

Abstract Objective To analyze effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the consumption of personal protective equipment and products (PPEP), as well as the frequency of surgical site infection (SSI) among non-COVID-19 patients submitted to cesarean sections. Methods A retrospective study was conducted in a maternity unity of a public teaching hospital which was not part of the reference service for COVID-19 treatment. It compared PPEP consumption and the occurrence of SSI after cesarean sections in monthly periods before and after the occurrence of the first case of COVID-19 in Porto Alegre, state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Personal protective equipment and products consumption was measured as units of masks, gloves, gowns, and caps, and use of alcohol-based products or soap for hand sanitation as ml/patient/day. The SSI index was calculated as the proportion of cases of SSI over the number of cesarean sections performed monthly during the study period. Results There was an increase in all measured items of PPEP, with consumption of disposable masks with a median of 1,450 units in the pre-COVID period, and of 2550 in the post-COVID period (a 75.9% increase). A decrease of 49% in SSI was detected, with a median of 1.74 in the pre-COVID period and of 0.89 in the post-COVID period. Conclusion The increase in consumption of PPEP could be a result of safer practices adopted by healthcare workers with the advent of COVID-19, of which the following reduction in the occurrence of SSI could be a direct consequence. Despite the severity of the crisis, one could state that extreme situations can lead to valuable reflections and opportunities for improvement.

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Identification of Key Elements for Compliance of the IMO Polar Code Requirement of Minimum 5 Days Survival Time

Volume 8: Polar and Arctic Sciences and Technology; Petroleum Technology ◽

10.1115/omae2017-61491 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Knut Espen Solberg ◽

Endre Barane ◽

Ove Tobias Gudmestad

Keyword(s):

Survival Time ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Full Scale ◽

Coast Guard ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Polar Regions ◽

Maritime Industry ◽

Norwegian Coast ◽

Polar Code

IMO has developed the functionally based Polar Code, which entered into force 01.01.2017. The code requires marine operators to provide lifesaving equipment that ensures a minimum of 5 days survival time. This requirement puts additional strain on the existing life-saving appliances. To identify the key elements for compliance of the IMO Polar Code, a full-scale exercise (SARex, (April 2016)) was initiated and organized by University of Stavanger, the Norwegian Coast Guard and GMC Maritime. The object of the SARex full scale exercise was to identify the gaps between the functionality provided by existing SOLAS approved safety equipment and the functionality required by the Polar Code. The exercise was conducted with the help of the vessel KV Svalbard (Norwegian Coast Guard), and participated by leading experts from industry, governmental organizations and academia. The following topics were specifically addressed in the exercise that took place in the marginal ice zone of the coast of Svalbard late April 2016: 1. Functionality of survival craft and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) polar conditions. 2. Coast Guard’s search and rescue procedures, including handling of mass evacuations in Polar Regions. 3. Functionality of Personal/Group survival gear according to the requirements defined in the IMO Polar Code. Survival for 5 days according to the requirements defined in the IMO Polar Code in a life raft represents a large challenge with regard to design of rescue craft, design of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), rations and on-board organization. As the IMO Polar Code is functional based, a holistic approach has to be utilized when assessing the survival chain. For an assessment of the survival chain to be conducted in a sustainable manner, key elements essential for survival in a life raft have to be identified and prioritized. Designing a survival chain applicable to maritime industry also involves considering commercial, economic and operational restrictions. The paper will elaborate on the key elements essential for a minimum of 5 days survival in a life raft based on the findings identified in the Phase 1, Functionality of survival craft and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) polar conditions, of the SARex exercise. The findings will be assessed and evaluated based on industry limitations.

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The high level of adherence of personal protective equipment in health care workers efficiently protects them from COVID-19 infection

Work ◽

10.3233/wor-210634 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-6

Author(s):

Malihe Zangoue ◽

Hamidreza Safari ◽

Simon G. Royce ◽

Alireza Zangooie ◽

Hadis Rezapour ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Close Contact ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Igm Antibodies ◽

First Case ◽

Referral Hospitals ◽

High Level

BACKGROUND: The first case of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was reported in December 2019 in Wuhan, China. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of acquiring and spreading the COVID-19 infection; using personal protective equipment (PPE) reduces the risk of COVID-19 infection in HCWs. OBJECTIVE: Our study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of COVID-19 IgG, IgM antibodies among HCWs as well as identifying the factors associated with this seroprevalence. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was performed from July to August 2020 on healthcare workers at two COVID-19 referral hospitals of Birjand University of Medical Sciences. The level of COVID-19 IgG and IgM antibodies in sera was measured by commercial qualitative ELISA kits. RESULTS: In total, 192 individuals participated in the study: physicians (31.25%), nurses (30.2%). 84.2%of participants had contact with confirmed COVID-19 cases and among them 42.9 %of had close contact with COVID-19 patients for more than 3 months, and 31%reported close contact with more than 50 confirmed COVID-19 cases. Mask and gloves were the most frequently used personal protective equipment (PPE) with 92.4%and 77.2%of usage. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the current study showed high level of adherence to the use of PPE among HCWs as well as very low prevalence of seropositivity for of COVID-19 antibodies, hence confirming the effectiveness of PPE in protecting HCWs among COVVID-19 and possibly any other similar infections.

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Acute parotitis associated with COVID-19 - an unusual presentation: a report from Bangladesh perspective

International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health ◽

10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20210853 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (3) ◽

pp. 1508

Author(s):

Md. R. U. Chowdhury ◽

Sahedul I. Bhuiyan ◽

Bimal C. Das ◽

Ashim K. Saha

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Disease Transmission ◽

Unusual Presentation ◽

Outpatient Department ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

First Case ◽

Care Workers ◽

Atypical Presentations

COVID-19 affects different peoples in many unusual ways. An increasing number of atypical presentations of COVID-19 have already been reported worldwide. So, in this pandemic period, any unusual presentation of the patients, should keep in mind about the association of coronavirus disease 2019. Hence, it is very important to diagnose the case without any delay to make immediate intervention as well as to prevent the disease transmission among the health care workers and in the community. We report a case of a 62 years old male presented in the outpatient department with COVID-19 associated acute parotitis, later developed bilateral pneumonia. Though COVID-19 still is a mysterious disease, but presentation with acute parotitis is very atypical which made the case interesting. In this case, we want to explore the importance of unusual presentation associated with COVID-19, emphasize to keep COVID-19 as a differential of acute parotitis at any age, to alert all health care workers to handle any patients with personal protective equipment to prevent transmission and probably this is the first case of COVID-19 presented with acute parotitis in Bangladesh.

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Intubation using VieScope vs. Video laryngoscopy in full personal protective equipment – a randomized, controlled simulation trial

BMC Anesthesiology ◽

10.1186/s12871-021-01502-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 21 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hannes Ecker ◽

Simone Kolvenbach ◽

Holger Herff ◽

Wolfgang A. Wetsch

Keyword(s):

Difficult Airway ◽

Success Rate ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Pass Rate ◽

Video Laryngoscopy ◽

Tube Placement ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Link Type ◽

Significant Difference

Abstract Background VieScope is a new type of laryngoscope, with a straight, transparent and illuminated blade, allowing for direct line of sight towards the larynx. In addition, VieScope is disposed of after single patient use, which can avoid cross-contaminations of contagious material. This has gained importance especially when treating patients with highly contagious infectious diseases, such as during the SARS-CoV2 pandemic. In this context, VieScope has not been evaluated yet in a clinical study. Material and methods This study compared intubation with VieScope to video-laryngoscopy (GlideScope) in normal and difficult airway in a standardized airway manikin in a randomized controlled simulation trial. Thirty-five medical specialists were asked to perform endotracheal intubation in full personal protective equipment (PPE). Primary endpoint was correct tube position. First-pass rate (i.e., success rate at the first attempt), time until intubation and time until first correct ventilation were registered as secondary endpoints. Results For correct tracheal tube placement, there was no significant difference between VieScope and GlideScope in normal and difficult airway conditions. VieScope had over 91% fist-pass success rate in normal airway setting. VieScope had a comparable success rate to GlideScope in difficult airway, but had a significantly longer time until intubation and time until ventilation. Conclusion VieScope and GlideScope had high success rates in normal as well as in difficult airway. There was no unrecognized esophageal intubation in either group. Overall time for intubation was longer in the VieScope group, though in an acceptable range given in literature. Results from this simulation study suggest that VieScope may be an acceptable alternative for tracheal intubation in full PPE. Trial Registration The study was registered at the German Clinical Trials Register www.drks.de (Registration date: 09/11/2020; TrialID: DRKS00023406).

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Hot days and Covid-19 – unusual heat stress for nursing professions in Germany

10.1101/2021.01.29.21250592 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Yvette Jegodka ◽

Lena Lagally ◽

Hanna Mertes ◽

Katharina Deering ◽

Julia Schoierer ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heat Stress ◽

Nursing Staff ◽

Personal Protective Equipment ◽

Heat Waves ◽

Protective Equipment ◽

List Type ◽

Heat Protection ◽

New Findings ◽

Hot Days ◽

The Impact

AbstractObjectivesOur aim was to identify whether working during hot days alongside with Covid-19 related personal protective equipment causes heat stress for nursing professionals in Germany.MethodsUsing an online survey, we assessed the impact of hot weather on nursing staff performing in personal protective equipment. A random selection of nursing staff from hospitals, nursing homes and outpatient care participated in the survey.ResultsOut of 428 participants, 6.3% were between 16 and 25 years old, 22.8% between 26 and 35 years, 21.9% between 36 and 45 years, 30.5% between 45 and 55 years, 18.2% between 56 and 65 years, and 0.3% were older than 65 years. Out of all participants, 18.2% were male and 82.5% female. The results of the survey showed that 48.3% had more than 20 years of experience in nursing and 46.2% cardiac, pulmonary, or other pre-existing conditions. Work was found exhaustive while working in PPE by 96.5% of the participants, and 93% complained of worse breathing. We found out that 85.8% reported difficulties to focus. Many workplaces turned out to lack adequate heat protection, with distinct differences concerning the amount of prophylactic and heat mitigating measures across institutions.ConclusionsOur results clearly show that employers must make more of an effort to provide adequate heat protection for their nursing staff. In order to secure the public health care, there is a need for action, especially in the case of previous conditions of caregivers.What is already known about this subject?►Working in personal protective equipment is often needed during pandemics, to protect nurses, doctors and staff from an infection.►However, the equipment can also hamper efficiency and productivity of healthcare workers and lead to personal discomfort, for example, during heat waves.What are the new findings?►According to our study, nurses and nursing assistants in Germany are often older than 45 years and, in many cases, suffer from pre-existing conditions, which exacerbate the problems with personal protective equipment during periods of hot temperatures.►Many healthcare institutions do not offer adequate ways to mitigate heat stress for their staff.How might this impact on policy or clinical practice in the foreseeable future?►The results from this study can inform policy makers and clinical practitioners to modify their protocols to include better protective measures during extreme heat or other adverse environmental conditions.

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