scholarly journals Nebuliser cleaning and disinfection practice in the home among patients with cystic fibrosis

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary MacFarlane ◽  
Lesley Carson ◽  
Amanda Crossan ◽  
Jane Bell ◽  
John E Moore ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cystic Fibrosis ◽  
Home Environment ◽  
Home Visit ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Hygiene Practices ◽  
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers ◽  
If Current ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Cleaning And Disinfection ◽  
Infection Control And Prevention

Background: Nebulised delivery of different classes of drugs is of fundamental importance in therapeutic regimens relating to both the management of disease progression in cystic fibrosis disease and its associated complications. The aim of this study was to determine if current nebuliser hygiene practices in the home environment by paediatric and adult cystic fibrosis populations are appropriate to ensure appropriate infection control and prevention measures have been addressed. Methods: An Audit Questionnaire Study was completed with adult cystic fibrosis patients ( n=20) or with parents of cystic fibrosis children ( n=24), through a healthcare professional interview on a one-to-one basis, during either a home visit or during patient/parent attendance at cystic fibrosis clinic. Results: Hygienic practices relating to nebuliser care varied, with paediatric carers more likely to clean and disinfect their devices. This study suggests there is much variation and confusion with regard to how to clean and disinfect nebulisers, as well as who is responsible for delivering this advice. Conclusion: The adult cystic fibrosis community in particular needs to be educated on practicalities associated with nebuliser hygiene and the reasons why this is important. Furthermore, to date there is a lack of a universally recommended guideline suitable for all types of cystic fibrosis nebulisers that all relevant pharmaceutical manufacturers advocate.

scholarly journals Migrants’ Quarantine and COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy: a Medico-anthropological View

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Di Meo ◽  
Enrico Bentivegna
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Patient Relationship ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Cultural Aspects ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Infection Control And Prevention

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic represents an important risk factor for migrants’ health. Paul Farmer highlighted the risk of global health response in emergency conditions exacerbating global and social inequalities. We argue that this is the case for quarantine ships and migrants’ management during the pandemic. Every aspect of infection-control and prevention measures acquires detention characteristics in these situations. With emphasis to the evolution of the doctor-patient relationship and to the anthropological and cultural aspects that were established during the pandemic, this article aims to provide an integrated view where physicians and anthropologists collaborate to deepen the understanding of the topic.

scholarly journals SARS-CoV-2 screening prevalence in educational staff in Berlin, Germany, June-December 2020

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sophia Kindzierski ◽  
Welmoed van Loon ◽  
Johanna Theuring ◽  
Franziska Hommes ◽  
Eberhard Thombansen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Prevalence ◽  
Occupational Hazards ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
School Settings ◽  
Occupational Risks ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Educational Staff ◽  
Infection Control And Prevention ◽  
Pandemic Wave

SARS-CoV-2 infections in childcare and school settings potentially bear occupational risks to educational staff. We analyzed data derived from voluntary, PCR-based screening of childcare educators and teachers attending five testing sites in Berlin, Germany, between June and December 2020. Within seven months, 17,491 tests were performed (4,458 educators, 13,033 teachers). Participants were largely female (72.9%), and median age was 41 years. Overall, SARS-CoV-2 infection prevalence was 1.2% (95%CI, 1.1-1.4%). Prevalence in educational staff largely resembled community incidence until the start of the second pandemic wave in mid-September 2020, when an unsteady prevalence plateau was reached. Then, infection prevalence in teachers (1.2% [95%CI, 0.8-1.8%]) did not significantly differ from the population prevalence (0.9% [0.6-1.4%]) but it was increased in educators (2.6% [1.6-4.0%]; aOR, 1.6 [1.3-2.0]). Irrespective of occupation, those that reported contact to a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 case outside of work had increased risk of infection (aOR, 3.0 [95%CI, 1.5-5.5]). In a step-wise backwards selection, the best set of associated factors with SARS-CoV-2 infection involved age, occupation, and calendar week. These results are in line with findings that teachers do not bear an increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, while childcare educators do. Infection control and prevention measures need to be strengthened in child care settings to further reduce respective occupational hazards. At the same time, the private environment appears to be the main source of SARS-CoV-2 infection for educational staff.

scholarly journals Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on intimate partner violence in Sudan, Malawi and Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Salma A. E. Ahmed ◽  
Josephine Changole ◽  
Cynthia Khamala Wangamati
Keyword(s):  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
Psychosocial Support ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Quality Health Care ◽  
Quality Health ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Infection Control And Prevention

AbstractThe COVID-19 infection control and prevention measures have contributed to the increase in incidence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and negatively impacted access to health and legal systems. The purpose of this commentary is to highlight the legal context in relation to IPV, and impact of COVID-19 on IPV survivors and IPV prevention and response services in Kenya, Malawi, and Sudan. Whereas Kenya and Malawi have ratified the Convention on Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and have laws against IPV, Sudan has yet to ratify the convention and lacks laws against IPV. Survivors of IPV in Kenya, Malawi and Sudan have limited access to quality health care, legal and psychosocial support services due to COVID-19 infection control and prevention measures. The existence of laws in Kenya and Malawi, which have culminated into establishment of IPV services, allows a sizable portion of the population to access IPV services in the pandemic period albeit sub-optimal. The lack of laws in Sudan means that IPV services are hardly available and as such, a minimal proportion of the population can access services. Civil society’s push in Kenya has led to prioritisation of IPV services. Thus, a vibrant civil society, committed governments and favourable IPV laws, can lead to better IPV services during the COVID-19 pandemic period.

scholarly journals Prolonged Carriage of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae and Potential Cross-transmission among Residents in Geriatric Long-term Care Facilities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryusuke Ae ◽  
Teppei Sasahara ◽  
Akio Yoshimura ◽  
Koki Kosami ◽  
Shuji Hatakeyama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Long Term Care ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Facilities ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Cross Transmission ◽  
Infection Control And Prevention ◽  
Geriatric Long Term Care

Abstract Background: Previous studies indicated residents in geriatric long-term care facilities (LTCFs) had much higher prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) carriage than the general population. Most ESBL-E carriers are asymptomatic. The study tested the hypothesis that residents with ESBL-E carriage may accumulate inside geriatric LTCFs through potential cross-transmission after exposure to residents with prolonged ESBL-E carriage.Methods: We evaluated 260 residents receiving long-term care in four LTCFs in Japan. All residents underwent initial ESBL-E testing of fecal specimens and were divided into two cohorts: Cohort 1, 95 patients with ≥2 months residence at study onset; Cohort 2, 165 patients with <2 months residence at study onset or new admission during the study period. Among the 260 residents with continuous LTCF residence, 126 underwent second testing 3–12 months after the first testing and 36 residents underwent third testing ≥12 months after the second testing. Three analyses were performed: (1) ESBL-E carriage statuses in Cohort 1 and Cohort 2; (2) changes in ESBL-E carriage statuses in the second testing and third testing; and (3) lengths of positive ESBL-E carriage statuses in patients who underwent the second testing and third testing.Results: Among all 260 residents, 95 (36.5%) were positive for ESBL-E carriage in the first testing. The prevalence of ESBL-E carriage was significantly higher in Cohort 2 than in Cohort 1 (40% vs. 28%; p<0.01). In the subsequent testing results, 18.3% of residents who were negative in the first testing showed positive conversion to ESBL-E carriage in the second testing, while no patients who were negative in the second testing showed positive conversion in the third testing. The maximum length of ESBL-E carriage was 17 months.Conclusions: ESBL-E was most likely to be carried into LTCFs through admission of new residents. Some residents acquired ESBL-E through potential cross-transmission within 3–12 months after admission. Despite possible ESBL-E carriage for >1 year, no residents showed positive conversion >12 months after admission, which suggests that residents with ESBL-E carriage may not accumulate inside LTCFs. Practical infection control and prevention measures against ESBL-E by care providers could improve the ESBL-E prevalence in geriatric LTCFs.

scholarly journals 494. COVID-19 Outbreak: A Tale of Two Psych Units

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S313-S314
Author(s):  
Marilou Corpuz ◽  
Ruchika Jain ◽  
Gregory Weston ◽  
Priya Nori ◽  
Priya Nori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Early Period ◽  
Index Patient ◽  
Structural Aspect ◽  
Practice Change ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Inpatient Psychiatry ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Infection Control And Prevention

Abstract Background COVID infections in inpatient psychiatry units present unique challenges during the pandemic, including behavioral characteristics of the patients, structural aspect of the unit, type of therapy for the patients. We present COVID outbreaks in psychiatry units in two hospitals in our medical center in Bronx, NY, and describe our mitigation strategies. Methods Hosp A: In the early period of the pandemic in NY, 2 patients in the inpatient psychiatry unit tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 PCR. The unit was temporarily closed to new admissions. Hosp B: On 4/1, one of the patients in a 22 bed Psych unit, admitted since 3/10/20, developed fever, cough and tested positive for COVID-19 PCR. Two of her close contacts tested positive for SARS-COV-2 PCR. Results Hospital A: In total, 5 of the 29 patients (17.2%) in the unit were SARS-CoV-2 positive, all of whom were asymptomatic. Hospital B: Testing of the remaining patients showed positive PCR in 10/14. PCR tests of healthcare workers (HCW) were positive in 13/46. Except for the index patient, all the patients were asymptomatic but 32/46 HCW reported symptoms. One negative patient subsequently turned positive. Infection control and prevention strategies instituted in both hospitals were the same with subtle differences due to dissimilar burden of infection and structure of the units. Table 1 shows the timing of the outbreak and the rapid institution of preventive measures in each of the hospitals. There was still difficulty with patients regarding adherence. Some of the patients refused to stay in isolation and would roam. Compliance with masking and hand hygiene was problematic. Communication was of paramount importance. Multiple meetings were held between the Psychiatry staff, Infection Control and Prevention team, executive leadership of the hospital. Environmental Services and Engineering were also involved. Communications with the NY State Department of Health occurred frequently. Conclusion Strategies for management of COVID-19 patients in inpatient psychiatric units depends on the density of infected patients in the hospital and in the community. The implementation of practice change may need to be rapidly adjusted depending on the situation and available resources. Contingency plans should be formulated early on. Disclosures Gregory Weston, MD MSCR, Allergan (Grant/Research Support)

scholarly journals Compliance with Standard Precautions and Its Relationship with Views on Infection Control and Prevention Policy among Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3420
Author(s):  
Eliza Lai-Yi Wong ◽  
Kin-Fai Ho ◽  
Dong Dong ◽  
Annie Wai-Ling Cheung ◽  
Peter Sen-Yung Yau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
High Risk Group ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Prevention Policy ◽  
Standard Precautions ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
And Control ◽  
Infection Control And Prevention

Background: Standard precautions prevent the spread of infections in healthcare settings. Incompliance with infection control guidelines of healthcare workers (HCWs) may increase their risk of exposure to infectious disease, especially under pandemics. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of compliance with the infection prevention and control practices among HCWs in different healthcare settings and its relationship with their views on workplace infection control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Nurses in Hong Kong were invited to respond to a cross-sectional online survey, in which their views on workplace infection and prevention policy, compliance with standard precautions and self-reported health during pandemics were collected. Results: The respondents were dissatisfied with workplace infection and prevention policy in terms of comprehensiveness (62%), clarity (64%), timeliness (63%), and transparency (60%). For the protective behavior, the respondents did not fully comply with the standard precautions when they were involved in medical care. Their compliance was relatively low when having proper patient handling (54%) and performing invasive procedures (46%). A multivariate analysis model proved that the level of compliance of the standard precautions was positively associated with the satisfaction on infection control and prevention policy among high risk group (0.020; 95% CI: 0.005–0.036), while older respondents had higher level of compliance among the inpatient and outpatient groups (coefficient range: 0.065–0.076). The higher level of compliance was also significantly associated with working in designated team and having chronic condition of the respondents among high-risk and inpatient groups. Conclusions: Standard precautions are the most important elements to reduce cross-transmission among HCWs and patients while the satisfaction on infection control and prevention policy would increase the compliance among the high-risk group. An overall suboptimal compliance and poor views on the infection prevention and control guidelines is a warning signal to healthcare system especially during pandemics.

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