Coronavirus: the science behind infection control and human exposure

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 14-17
Author(s):  
Alison Phillis
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Human Exposure ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
Viral Particles ◽  
Therapeutic Development ◽  
Environmental Decontamination ◽  
The Individual ◽  
New Reservoir

Coronavirus SARS-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the virus responsible for the disease known as COVID-19. The global community is struggling with the health and economic repercussions of this novel disease, and this article is part of a series that seeks to explore and explain the science behind the foci of infection control measures being considered at both the individual and population health levels. Understanding the factors influencing the ability of this virus to select an appropriate host, breach initial defences and successfully assume a new reservoir from which to disseminate and disperse infective viral particles is considered here. Brief reference is made to infection control measures such as effective hand hygiene, glove usage, environmental decontamination and social distancing guidance against the context of the specific evidence around COVID-19 transmission. Predictors of poorer outcome are introduced in the light of these being target themes for therapeutic development.

scholarly journals ‘…you just put up with it for the sake of humanity.’: an exploratory qualitative study on causes of stress in palliative care nursing during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. e051550
Author(s):  
Susann May ◽  
Kerstin Stahlhut ◽  
Matthew Allsop ◽  
Martin Heinze ◽  
Felix Mühlensiepen
Keyword(s):  
Palliative Care ◽  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Hospice Care ◽  
Qualitative Content Analysis ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Care Nursing

ObjectiveTo explore and analyse causes of stress among nurses in palliative and inpatient hospice care settings in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic.DesignExplorative, qualitative study using problem-centred interviews. Interview data were analysed using structured qualitative content analysis.SettingTelephone interviews with nurses of different settings of palliative and inpatient hospice care.Participants16 nurses from inpatient hospice, palliative care units and specialised palliative home care were recruited.ResultsCOVID-19 infection control measures placed both physical and psychological strain on palliative care nurses. Due to changes in infection control information, workflows were being readjusted on a daily basis, preventing everyday routines and hindering relief from stress. There are reduced and limited opportunities for sharing and reflecting on daily working routines with team colleagues. Specific causes of stress in the individual settings of palliative and inpatient hospice care were identified. Overall, there is a tension between the nurses’ perceptions of proper palliative care nursing, in terms of closeness, psychosocial and emotional support and compliance with infection control measures.ConclusionsPalliative care nurses have been exposed to high levels of both physical and psychological stress during the COVID-19 pandemic. This requires rapid relief and support, with a need to ensure continuity of professional supervision and peer-support, which may be facilitated via digital technologies. The unique role of nurses in inpatient hospice and palliative care during COVID-19 ought to be recognised and valorised.

scholarly journals Impact of Changes in Infection Control Measures on the Dynamics of COVID-19 Infections in Schools and Pre-schools

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martina Sombetzki ◽  
Petra Lücker ◽  
Manja Ehmke ◽  
Sabrina Bock ◽  
Martina Littmann ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Regression Model ◽  
Multivariate Regression ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Multivariate Model ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Index Cases

Introduction: With the increased emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants, the impact on schools and preschools remains a matter of debate. To ensure that schools and preschools are kept open safely, the identification of factors influencing the extent of outbreaks is of importance.Aim: To monitor dynamics of COVID-19 infections in schools and preschools and identify factors influencing the extent of outbreaks.Methods: In this prospective observational study we analyzed routine surveillance data of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany, from calendar week (CW) 32, 2020 to CW19, 2021 regarding SARS-CoV-2 infection events in schools and preschools considering changes in infection control measures over time. A multivariate linear regression model was fitted to evaluate factors influencing the number of students, teachers and staff tested positive following index cases in schools and preschools. Due to an existing multicollinearity in the common multivariate regression model between the variables “face mask obligation for children” and “face mask obligation for adults”, two further separate regression models were set up (Multivariate Model Adults and Multivariate Model Children).Results: We observed a significant increase in secondary cases in preschools in the first quarter of 2021 (CW8 to CW15, 2021), and simultaneously a decrease in secondary cases in schools. In multivariate regression analysis, the strongest predictor of the extent of the outbreaks was the teacher/ caregiver mask obligation (B = −1.9; 95% CI: −2.9 to −1.0; p < 0.001). Furthermore, adult index cases (adult only or child+adult combinations) increased the likelihood of secondary cases (B = 1.3; 95% CI: 0.9 to 1.8; p < 0.001). The face mask obligation for children also showed a significant reduction in the number of secondary cases (B = −0.6; 95% CI: −0.9 to −0.2; p = 0.004.Conclusion: The present study indicates that outbreak events at schools and preschools are effectively contained by an obligation for adults and children to wear face masks.

scholarly journals The Ethics of Infection Control: Philosophical Frameworks

2007 ◽  
Vol 28 (9) ◽  
pp. 1077-1084 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles S. Bryan ◽  
Theresa J. Call ◽  
Kevin C. Elliott
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Virtue Ethics ◽  
Clinical Medicine ◽  
Daily Practice ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Ethical Frameworks ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
The Individual

Recent developments that are relevant to the ethics of infection control include the patient safety movement, the appearance of new diseases (notably, severe acute respiratory syndrome) that pose threats to healthcare workers, data confirming the suspicion that infection control measures such as isolation may compromise patient care, and, in philosophy, renewed interest in virtue ethics and communitarianism. We review general ethical frameworks and relevant vocabulary for infection control practitioners and hospital epidemiologists. Frameworks for the ethics of infection control resemble those of public health more than those of clinical medicine but embrace elements of both. The optimum framework, we suggest, takes into account a virtue-based communitarianism. The virtue ethics movement stresses the need to consider not only rules and outcomes but also the character of the individual(s) involved. Communitarianism emphasizes the well-being and values of local communities, best determined by shared, democratic decision making among stakeholders. Brief discussions of 15 consecutive cases illustrate the extent to which the daily practice of infection control poses problems heavily freighted with ethical overtones.

scholarly journals Risk of infection and appeal to public benefit increase compliance with infection control measures

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sebastian Bjørkheim ◽  
Bjørn Sætrevik
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Disease Outbreak ◽  
Infection Risk ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Individual Risk ◽  
The Public ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Societal Benefits ◽  
Risk Scenario ◽  
The Individual

To handle an infectious outbreak, the public must be informed about the infection risk and be motivated to comply with infection control measures. Perceiving the situation as threatening and seeing public benefits to complying may increase the public’s motivation to comply. The current study used a preregistered survey experiment to investigate if emphasizing high infection risk and appealing to societal benefits impacted intention to comply with infection control measures. The results show main effects of risk and of appeals to societal benefits. There was no interaction between risk scenario and motivational emphasis. The results suggest that to maximize compliance, information about disease outbreak should emphasize the individual risk of contracting the disease, and could also underline the public value of limiting infection spread. These findings can inform communication strategies during an infectious disease outbreak and help health authorities limit transmission.

scholarly journals The Consistency of Islamic and Medical Perspectives in the Control of the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Mossad Abdelhak Shaban Mohamed ◽  
Hans Van Rosternberghe ◽  
Noraida Ramli ◽  
Nor Rosidah Ibrahim ◽  
Manar Mossad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Control Strategies ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
Care Guidelines ◽  
Individual Household ◽  
Control Authority ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Medical Recommendations ◽  
Medical Guidelines

Controlling the current COVID-19 pandemic requires infection control at both the individual and global levels.  There is insufficient information on the consistency between Islamic principles and medical guidelines regarding infection control measures. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the consistency between Islamic principles and evidence-based medical recommendations during the pandemic time. A comparison was made between the latest medical infection control recommendations and Islamic references (the Quran and its interpretation, and Sunnah and its explanation). Relevant materials such as books and research articles in Arabic or English were reviewed. The information was then classified into different levels of infection control strategies, which were individual, household, community and healthcare unit levels. This study demonstrated that both Islamic principles and medical guidelines are consistent in terms of infection control, which involves crisis supervision by the infection control authority and specialised agencies, hand and general hygiene, personal protection, seeking specialist consultation and treatment, comprehensive care, guidelines in the event of limited resources, home isolation, travel bans and quarantine. Moreover, it was observed that Islamic principles combine and optimise both the individual frame and societal cohesion.

scholarly journals Aftermath of Covid-19 Pandemic on oral surgery and orthodontic practices in Northern India

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 102-107
Author(s):  
Variyta ◽  
Monika Chhabra ◽  
Ravi Narula
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Oral Surgery ◽  
Maxillofacial Surgery ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery ◽  
Northern India ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Right

The scuttlebutt is already churning out projections about what the post COVID-19 work environment might look like. While we get ‘old-school’ in tackling challenges, we may also want to consider getting ‘tech savvy’ in regards to oral health delivery via teledentistry for prior consultation ultimately decreasing footfall in OPDs. The COVID-19 outbreak serves as both a reminder and an opportunity to assist. This is an ever evolving dynamic situation, and recommendations discussed herein are based on the best currently available information. However, the decision of the treatment of patients still rests with the individual practitioner. The blanket instruction is to dodge all aerosol related procedures in dental setups. It’s dentist prerogative to install all fail-safes and perform restorative procedure requiring AGPs with all efforts to mitigate the risk of transmission of the SARS-Cov-2 virus and for minimal working times with the appropriate PPE and infection control protocols. Even when not using AGPs, it is important that robust infection control measures are employed as this isn’t a perfect world, and we’re still in the throes of a pandemic, making it imperative to cultivate the right mind-set within ourselves. The intent of the present review is to consider changes in the clinical oral and maxillofacial surgery and orthodontic workflow and, allow for a smoother transition, with less risk to our patients and healthcare personnel.

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.

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