Challenges post-COVID-19: planning strategies to resume elective dentistry and allied surgical specialities

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1-4
Author(s):  
Melissa Loh ◽  
Karthikeyan Iyengar ◽  
William YC Loh
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Surgical Management ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Dental Treatment ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Limited Availability ◽  
Viral Spread ◽  
Elective Treatment ◽  
Planning Strategies ◽  
The Uk

The effect of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic on the NHS in the UK has been profound and unprecedented. Many surgical specialities, including dentistry, throughout the country have not been exempt from this effect. As there are many aerosol-generating procedures and aerosol-generating exposures in surgical specialities, there has been a substantial cancellation of elective treatment. This has been in part because of the limited availability of personal protective equipment for surgeons as this is being use elsewhere by clinicians to aid the reduction of viral spread in the community. As the UK is preparing to emerge from the ‘lockdown’ during the pandemic, restarting elective surgical and dental treatment is an expected challenge. This article looks at the possible roadmap to recovery of elective surgical management and dentistry, taking into consideration possible predicted further peaks and troughs of COVID-19 infections.

scholarly journals Safe On-Boat Resuscitation by Lifeguards in COVID-19 Era: A Pilot Study Comparing Three Sets of Personal Protective Equipment

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Roberto Barcala-Furelos ◽  
Cristian Abelairas-Gómez ◽  
Alejandra Alonso-Calvete ◽  
Francisco Cano-Noguera ◽  
Aida Carballo-Fazanes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Prehospital Care ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Preparation Time

Abstract Introduction: On-boat resuscitation can be applied by lifeguards in an inflatable rescue boat (IRB). Due to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-COV-2) and recommendations for the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), prehospital care procedures need to be re-evaluated. The objective of this study was to determine how the use of PPE influences the amount of preparation time needed before beginning actual resuscitation and the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR; QCPR) on an IRB. Methods: Three CPR tests were performed by 14 lifeguards, in teams of two, wearing different PPE: (1) Basic PPE (B-PPE): gloves, a mask, and protective glasses; (2) Full PPE (F-PPE): B-PPE + a waterproof apron; and (3) Basic PPE + plastic blanket (B+PPE). On-boat resuscitation using a bag-valve-mask (BVM) and high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter was performed sailing at 20km/hour. Results: Using B-PPE takes less time and is significantly faster than F-PPE (B-PPE 17 [SD = 2] seconds versus F-PPE 69 [SD = 17] seconds; P = .001), and the use of B+PPE is slightly higher (B-PPE 17 [SD = 2] seconds versus B+PPE 34 [SD = 6] seconds; P = .002). The QCPR remained similar in all three scenarios (P >.05), reaching values over 79%. Conclusion: The use of PPE during on-board resuscitation is feasible and does not interfere with quality when performed by trained lifeguards. The use of a plastic blanket could be a quick and easy alternative to offer extra protection to lifeguards during CPR on an IRB.

Aerosol-generating procedures in home care

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 76-80
Author(s):  
Drew Payne ◽  
Martin Peache
Keyword(s):  
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Community Setting ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Clinical Environment ◽  
Clinical Practices ◽  
Clinical Procedures ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
The Uk

COVID-19 has changed the landscape of healthcare in the UK since the first confirmed case in January 2020. Most of the resources have been directed towards reducing transmission in the hospital and clinical environment, but little is known about what community nurses can do to reduce the risk when they nurse people in their own homes? This article looks at what COVID-19 is, how it is spread and how health professionals are at an increased risk from aerosol-generating procedures (AGPs). There is also a discussion on the benefit of mask usage. It defines what AGPs are, which clinical procedures are AGPs, including ones performed in the community setting, and which identified clinical practices that have been mistaken for AGPs. There is also a discussion on the suitability of performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). It also describes how to reduce the risk by the use of full personal protective equipment (PPE) and other strategies when AGPs are performed in a patient's home. It ends with general advice about managing the risk of COVID-19 transmission with patients in their homes.

Comparative Study Illustrating Difficulties Educating the Public to Respond to Chemical Terrorism

2007 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Hildebrand ◽  
Anthony Bleetman
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Similar Response ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
The Public ◽  
Chemical Attack ◽  
Chemical Release ◽  
Chemical Terrorism ◽  
The Uk

AbstractBackground:In recent years, the perceived threat of chemical terrorism has increased. It is hoped that teaching civilians how to behave during a chemical incident will decrease the number of “worried well” patients at hospitals, reduce secondary contamination, and increase compliance with the instructions of emergency services. The governments of the United Kingdom and Israel sent booklets to every household in their respective countries. In Israel, the civilian population was issued chemical personal protective equipment (chemical personal protective equipment).Methods:The effectiveness of these public education programs was assessed using a scenario-based questionnaire that was distributed to 100 respondents in Birmingham, UK and Jerusalem, Israel. Respondents were asked how they would behave in three deliberate chemical release scenarios and how they would seek information and help.Results:Only 33% of the UK respondents and 22% of the Israeli respondents recalled reading the government booklets. When asked what they would do after being contaminated in a deliberate release, approximately half of the respondents ranked seeking medical care at a hospital as the most appropriate action.The preferred sources of information in the wake of a chemical strike were (in descending order): radio, television, and the Internet. Approximately half of the respondents would call emergency services for information. Forty-one percent of the UK respondents and 33% of Israeli respondents stated that they either would call or go to the nearest hospital to seek information.Conclusions:The public information campaigns in both countries have had a limited impact. Many citizens claimed they would self-present to the nearest hospital following a chemical attack rather than waiting for the emergency services. A similar response was witnessed in the Sarin attacks in Tokyo and the 1991 Scud missile attacks in Israel.Current UK doctrine mandates that specialist decontamination teams be deployed to the scene of a chemical release. However, this takes >1 hour, and it requires at least 30 minutes to don hospital chemical personal protective equipment. Therefore, it is imperative that hospitals are equipped to cope with unannounced self-presenters after a chemical attack. This requires chemical personal protective equipment and protocols that are easier to use.

scholarly journals Management of used personal protective equipment and wastes related to COVID-19 in South Korea

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 820-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seung-Whee Rhee
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Infectious Diseases ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Ebola Virus ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Management Process ◽  
Safe Management ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
Management Method

With the rapid spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), the amount of used personal protective equipment (PPE) including face masks and protective clothes has significantly increased. This used PPE in a hospital can lead to the indirect infection by COVID-19. Accordingly, it has been recognized that the management of used PPE is very important to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Through the experience of spreading some infectious diseases such as severe acute respiratory syndrome, Middle East respiratory syndrome and Ebola virus in South Korea (Republic of Korea), a safe management method of waste related to infectious diseases has been developed. In addition, regarding waste related to COVID-19, the Ministry of Environment, SK, proposed special measures to strengthen the management process of waste related to COVID-19 based on principles such as sustainability, transparency and safety.

scholarly journals Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) use among emergency eye care professionals in the UK during the COVID19 pandemic

Eye ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 1224-1228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy-lee Shirodkar ◽  
Ian De Silva ◽  
Seema Verma ◽  
Sarah Anderson ◽  
Polly Dickerson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Eye Care ◽  
The Uk

Coronavirus and Its Impact on Dental Fraternity

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (02) ◽  
pp. 49-56
Author(s):  
Krishna Prasad D ◽  
Anupama Prasad D ◽  
Mayank Kumar Parakh
Keyword(s):  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Close Contact ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Emergency Procedures ◽  
Current Vaccine ◽  
The World ◽  
Global Threat ◽  
Respiratory Hygiene ◽  
High Infectivity

AbstractThe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a pandemic the world is currently facing head on. It is a viral infection caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). No current vaccine is available nor a curative treatment option is available at present, thus making it even more important to prevent the disease. Since dentists are in very close contact with their patients and there is aerosol production in various dental treatments, they are at a heightened risk of contracting the disease. To prevent the disease, strict hand and respiratory hygiene needs to be followed. Personal protective equipment should be used for any emergency procedures and thorough history must be taken of every patient. Digitalization of seminars and classes has been adopted by various dental institutions. With high infectivity of the virus, social distancing and stringent prevention protocols can help in controlling this severe global threat.

scholarly journals COVID-19: additive manufacturing response in the UK

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 167-174
Author(s):  
Elen J Parry ◽  
Craig E Banks
Keyword(s):  
Additive Manufacturing ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Medical Equipment ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Safety Regulations ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
The Uk ◽  
Am Processes ◽  
Regulatory Landscape

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, a novel coronavirus, caused global disruption specifically in linear supply chains. Increased demand for already disrupted services led to a global shortage of medical equipment and personal protective equipment. Use of additive manufacturing (AM) processes by the manufacturing community has shown great innovation, agility and flexibility to fill supply chain gaps and meet shortfalls. In the context of contingency reaction to a global healthcare emergency, decisions have had to be made quickly, in some cases bypassing device safety regulations. This concentrated and spontaneous use of AM has highlighted the challenges and risks of such innovation, which we discuss in relation to the UK’s current regulatory landscape. We have discussed lessons learned and the potential future impact upon wider use of AM in healthcare.

scholarly journals Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Surveillance and Exposure in the Perioperative Setting With Universal Testing and Personal Protective Equipment Policies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anoshe Aslam ◽  
Jessica Singh ◽  
Elizabeth Robilotti ◽  
Karin Chow ◽  
Tarun Bist ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Diagnostic Strategies ◽  
Asymptomatic Patients ◽  
Polymerase Chain

Abstract Background New York City (NYC) experienced a surge of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases in March and April 2020. Since then, universal polymerase chain reaction (PCR)–based surveillance testing and personal protective equipment (PPE) measures are in wide use in procedural settings. There is limited published experience on the utility and sustainability of PCR-based surveillance testing in areas with receding and consistently low community COVID-19 rates. Methods The study was conducted at a tertiary care cancer center in NYC from 22 March to 22 August 2020. Asymptomatic patients underwent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing before surgeries, interventional radiology procedures, and endoscopy. Contact tracing in procedural areas was done if a patient with an initial negative screen retested positive within 48 hours of the procedure. Results From March 22 until August 22, 2020, 11 540 unique patients underwent 14 233 tests before surgeries or procedures at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Overall, 65 patients were positive, with a peak rate of 4.3% that fell below 0.3% after April 2020. Among the 65 positive cases, 3 were presymptomatic and 38 were asymptomatic. Among asymptomatic test-positive patients, 76% had PCR cycle threshold >30 at first detection. Five patients tested newly positive in the immediate postoperative period, exposing 82 employees with 1 case of probable transmission (1.2%). Conclusions The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection identified on preprocedural surveillance was low in our study, which was conducted in an area with limited community spread at the later stage of the study. Universal PPE is protective in procedural settings. Optimal and flexible diagnostic strategies are needed to accomplish and sustain the goals of comprehensive preprocedure surveillance testing.

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