scholarly journals COVID-19 infection control measures and outcomes in urban dialysis centers in predominantly African American communities

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ibironke W. Apata ◽  
Jason Cobb ◽  
Jose Navarrete ◽  
John Burkart ◽  
Laura Plantinga ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
African American ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Dialysis Facility ◽  
Baseline Characteristics ◽  
Dialysis Facilities

Abstract Background Emory Dialysis serves an urban and predominantly African American population at its four outpatient dialysis facilities. We describe COVID-19 infection control measures implemented and clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 in the Emory Dialysis facilities. Methods Implementation of COVID-19 infection procedures commenced in February 2020. Subsequently, COVID-19 preparedness assessments were conducted at each facility. Patients with COVID-19 from March 1–May 31, 2020 were included; with a follow-up period spanning March–June 30, 2020. Percentages of patients diagnosed with COVID-19 were calculated, and characteristics of COVID-19 patients were summarized as medians or percentage. Baseline characteristics of all patients receiving care at Emory Dialysis (i.e. Emory general dialysis population) were presented as medians and percentages. Results Of 751 dialysis patients, 23 (3.1%) were diagnosed with COVID-19. The median age was 67.0 years and 13 patients (56.6%) were female. Eleven patients (47.8%) were residents of nursing homes. Nineteen patients (82.6%) required hospitalization and 6 patients (26.1%) died; the average number of days from a positive SARS-CoV-2 (COVID) test to death was 16.8 days (range 1–34). Two patients dialyzing at adjacent dialysis stations and a dialysis staff who cared for them, were diagnosed with COVID-19 in a time frame that may suggest transmission in the dialysis facility. In response, universal masking in the facility was implemented (prior to national guidelines recommending universal masking), infection control audits and re-trainings of PPE were also done to bolster infection control practices. Conclusion We successfully implemented recommended COVID-19 infection control measures aimed at mitigating the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Most of the patients with COVID-19 required hospitalizations. Dialysis facilities should remain vigilant and monitor for possible transmission of COVID-19 in the facility.

scholarly journals Assessment of infection control practice in private dental hospital

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (11) ◽  
pp. 4737 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bipin Kumar Yadav ◽  
Ambesh Kumar Rai ◽  
Savita Agarwal ◽  
Bindu Yadav
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
High Volume ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Infection Control Practice ◽  
Hand Washing ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Control Practice ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Dental Hospital ◽  
Needle Prick

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the awareness and practice of infection control procedures among dental surgeons in the private dental hospital.Methods: This is an observational study conducted among thirty dental surgeons working in a private dental hospital in Gwalior, (M.P.) to evaluate the management policies and procedures associated with infection control and instrument decontamination. The doctors were indirectly interviewed by self-administered questionnaire consisted of twenty-one questions regarding the availability of infection control materials, use of personal protective devices, techniques of hand washing, sterilization methods, control of aerosols, status of immunization, asking about medical history, routine documentation of needle-prick injuries, methods of waste segregation etc. The study group was selected regardless of sex, age and field of expertise. This study was done in two weeks and in this time frame self-administered, pre-structured questionnaire was offered to professionals.Results: In this study it was found that although 95% of doctor’s wear gloves but only 6.6% doctors use protective eyewear and 3.3% use gowns for protection. The most of the doctor’s use soap bars for hand washing which is also not a good infection control practice method. There are only 10% doctors who use high-volume-evacuator but most of the time available evacuator is not in working state. Not a single doctor used rubber dam. Out of thirty 74% use gluteraldehyde, 67% use sodium hypochlorite, 54% use phenolic compounds as a surface disinfectant. Most of the doctors use non-sterilized hand pieces, burs, impression trays etc.Conclusions: The infection control actions implemented by dental surgeons were far from ideal. Efforts are needed to improve attitudes, encourage implementation, raise awareness, promote regular updating courses and motivate dental professionals in the correct and routine use of infection control measures. Apart from this, it is also important to improve the hospital management system.

scholarly journals C.1 Time Metrics and Clinical Outcomes of Thrombectomy in Acute Stroke Patients Before and After Implementation of COVID-19 Infection Protocols in Nine Canadian Stroke Centres

2021 ◽  
Vol 48 (s3) ◽  
pp. S18-S18
Author(s):  
S Zhu ◽  
V Tsehmaister-Abitbul ◽  
G Stotts ◽  
R Fahed ◽  
H Pettem ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Hospital Arrival ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Baseline Characteristics ◽  
Stroke Center ◽  
The Impact

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led an implementation of institutional infection control protocols. This study will determine the effects of these protocols on outcomes of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients treated with endovascular therapy (EVT). Methods: Uninterrupted time series analysis of the impact of COVID-19 safety protocols on AIS patients undergoing EVT. We analyze data from prospectively collected quality improvement databases at 9 centers from March 11, 2019 to March 10, 2021. The primary outcome is 90-day modified Rankin Score (mRS). The secondary outcomes are angiographic time metrics. Results: Preliminary analysis of one stroke center included 214 EVT patients (n=144 pre-pandemic). Baseline characteristics were comparable between the two periods. Time metrics “last seen normal to puncture” (305.7 vs 407.2 min; p=0.05) and “hospital arrival to puncture” (80.4 vs 121.2 min; p=0.04) were significantly longer during pandemic compared to pre-pandemic. We found no significant difference in 90-day mRS (2.0 vs 2.2; p=0.506) or successful EVT rate (89.6% vs 90%; p=0.93). Conclusions: Our results indicate an increase in key time metrics of EVT in AIS during the pandemic, likely related to infection control measures. Despite the delays, we found no difference in clinical outcomes between the two periods.

scholarly journals Strategies for Prevention of COVID-19 Transmission in Hospitals: a Nationwide Survey of Controversial Issues Related to Infection Control and Prevention in Korea

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wooyoung Jang ◽  
Bongyoung Kim ◽  
Eu Suk Kim ◽  
Kyoung-Ho Song ◽  
Song Mi Moon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
National Level ◽  
Nationwide Survey ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
National Guidelines ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Medical Institutions ◽  
Hospitalised Patients ◽  
Control And Prevention

Abstract Background: Infection-control measures against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) within a hospital are often based on expert experience and intuition due to the lack of clear guidelines. This study aimed to survey the current strategies for the prevention of the spread of COVID-19 in medical institutions.Methods: In a systematic review of national-level guidelines, 13 key topics were selected. Six hospitals were provided an open survey between August 11 and 25, 2020, to assess their responses to these topics. Using these data, an online questionnaire was developed and sent to the infection-control teams of 46 hospitals in South Korea. The survey was conducted between January 31, 2021, and February 20, 2021.Results: All 46 hospitals responded to the survey. All hospitals operated screening clinics, while 89.1% (41/46) allowed symptomatic patients without COVID-19-associated symptoms to visit the general outpatient clinics. Most hospitals (87.2%; 34/39) conducted polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests for all hospitalised patients. Moreover, 35 (76.1%) hospitals had preemptive isolation policies for hospitalised patients, of which 97.1% (34/35) released patients from isolation after a single negative PCR test. Most hospitals (76.9%; 20/26) allowed shared-room accommodation for patients who met the national criteria for release from isolation but showed positive PCR results with cycle threshold values above a certain threshold (34.6%; 9/26) or after a certain period that satisfied the national criteria (26.9%; 7/26). Conclusions: Various guidelines were being applied by each medical institution, but an explicit set of national guidelines to support these guidelines was unavailable.

Nurses’ Professional Care Obligation and Their Attitudes Towards SARS Infection Control Measures in Taiwan During and After the 2003 Epidemic

2004 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 277-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huey-Ming Tzeng
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Time Frame ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Hospital Nurses ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Current Health Status ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Professional Care ◽  
The Relationship

This study investigated the relationship between hospital nurses’ professional care obligation, their attitudes towards SARS infection control measures, whether they had ever cared for SARS patients, their current health status, selected demographic characteristics, and the time frame of the data collection (from May 6 to May 12 2003 during the SARS epidemic, and from June 17 to June 24 2003 after the SARS epidemic). The study defines 172 nurses’ willingness to provide care for SARS patients as a professional obligation regardless of the nature of the disease. A conceptual model was developed and tested using ordinal logistic regression modelling. The findings showed that nurses’ levels of agreement with general SARS infection control measures and the lack of necessity for quarantining health care workers who provided care for SARS patients were statistically significant predicators of the nurses’ fulfilling of their professional care obligation. Suggestions and study limitations are discussed.

scholarly journals Infection prevention measures for patients undergoing hemodialysis during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan: a nationwide questionnaire survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuka Sugawara ◽  
◽  
Masao Iwagami ◽  
Kan Kikuchi ◽  
Yoko Yoshida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Questionnaire Survey ◽  
Infection Prevention ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Nosocomial Transmission ◽  
Third Wave ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Dialysis Facilities

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become a global pandemic affecting a variety of medical treatments, including hemodialysis. This study aims to investigate the implementation of infection control measures, to examine the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and disinfectants, and to quantify the number of nosocomial COVID-19 transmissions in hemodialysis facilities in Japan during the pandemic. Methods We conducted a nationwide questionnaire survey between 20 October and 16 November 2020 (i.e., between the “second wave” and “third wave” in Japan) in the 4198 dialysis facilities of the Japanese Association of Dialysis Physicians and the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy. A total of 2227 facilities (53.0%) responded. The questionnaire consisted of (i) characteristics of facilities, (ii) infection prevention measures in routine dialysis practices, (iii) shortage of PPE, (iv) feasibility of various isolation measures, and (v) nosocomial transmission. Results Half of the responding facilities were hospitals with multiple departments, and the other half were clinics specialized in dialysis. Several infection prevention measures such as health checks of staff and patients, donning of masks before and after hemodialysis, and disinfection of frequently contacted areas were implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic. There was a significant improvement in the implementation rate of these measures during the pandemic, compared to before it, which reached over 90%. More than half of the facilities reported a shortage of disposable masks (67.2%) and hand sanitizer alcohol (56.7%). Isolation of COVID-19 patients in private rooms was possible only in 52.7% of the facilities. The majority of facilities (73.3%) could not accept COVID-19 dialysis patients due to lack of space and manpower. Nosocomial transmission of COVID-19 occurred in 4.0% of the facilities. Of those infected, 51.9% were staff. Conclusions This survey revealed that most hemodialysis facilities in Japan had improved implementation of infection control measures and had shortage of PPEs and disinfectants, though some facilities did not implement infection prevention measures adequately, mainly due to the limited space of the facility. It may be recommended that each facility immediately establishes isolation measures to prepare for the pandemic of COVID-19.

Eye in COVID-19: A Brief Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Mohsin Ali ◽  
Qudsia Anwar Dar ◽  
Zahid Kamal ◽  
Alishba Khan
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Respiratory Symptoms ◽  
Literature Search ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Transmission Route ◽  
Ocular Manifestation ◽  
Personal Protection ◽  
Personal Protection Equipment ◽  
Ocular Manifestations ◽  
Infection Control Measures

This is a brief review covering the currently available literature on ocular manifestations of COVID-19, andprevention strategies for ophthalmologists. A literature search was carried out of Pubmed, Google Scholar andWHO database of publications on COVID. Keywords used in the search were eye, ocular manifestations,ophthalmology, COVID-19, nCoV-2019, and coronavirus disease. All available articles were reviewed and thosepertinent to the study topic were included. Considering the dearth of information available, ophthalmology journals were also searched separately for relevant articles. Major ocular manifestation of COVID reported in literature is red eye, which usually presents before the onset of respiratory symptoms. Since the eye can be a possible transmission route for SARS-CoV-2, infection control measures should be undertaken by ophthalmologists, including use of personal protection equipment and eye/face covering. A framework for structuring ophthalmological services during the COVID pandemic is also presented in this review.

scholarly journals Estimating the consequences of a COVID-19 super spreader: A stochastic model of a night on the town

2021 ◽  
pp. 140349482110314
Author(s):  
Nils Henrik Kolnes ◽  
Snorre Nilsen Eikeland ◽  
Tor Albert Ersdal ◽  
Geir Sverre Braut
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Stochastic Model ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Local Municipality ◽  
The Town

A stochastic model estimated the consequences of a COVID-19 super spreader event occurring in the local municipality of Stavanger, Norway as a result of a night on the town. The model imposed different infection control regulations and compared these different scenarios. For Stavanger’s 161 locations of service, secondary transmissions from a super spreader event was estimated to infect a median of 37, requiring the quarantining of 200 guests given no infection control regulations, 23 and 167 when imposing social distancing regulations and other hygienic infection control measures, 7 infected and 63 quarantined guests with restrictions placed on the guest capacity, and 4 infected and 57 quarantined guests with both forms of restriction in use.

scholarly journals Can Copper Products and Surfaces Reduce the Spread of Infectious Microorganisms and Hospital-Acquired Infections?

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (13) ◽  
pp. 3444
Author(s):  
Joji Abraham ◽  
Kim Dowling ◽  
Singarayer Florentine
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Hospital Admissions ◽  
Copper Alloys ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Traditional Use ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Infection Control Measures

Pathogen transfer and infection in the built environment are globally significant events, leading to the spread of disease and an increase in subsequent morbidity and mortality rates. There are numerous strategies followed in healthcare facilities to minimize pathogen transfer, but complete infection control has not, as yet, been achieved. However, based on traditional use in many cultures, the introduction of copper products and surfaces to significantly and positively retard pathogen transmission invites further investigation. For example, many microbes are rendered unviable upon contact exposure to copper or copper alloys, either immediately or within a short time. In addition, many disease-causing bacteria such as E. coli O157:H7, hospital superbugs, and several viruses (including SARS-CoV-2) are also susceptible to exposure to copper surfaces. It is thus suggested that replacing common touch surfaces in healthcare facilities, food industries, and public places (including public transport) with copper or alloys of copper may substantially contribute to limiting transmission. Subsequent hospital admissions and mortality rates will consequently be lowered, with a concomitant saving of lives and considerable levels of resources. This consideration is very significant in times of the COVID-19 pandemic and the upcoming epidemics, as it is becoming clear that all forms of possible infection control measures should be practiced in order to protect community well-being and promote healthy outcomes.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document