COVID-19: A 2020 update

The 2019 COVID-19 pandemic has thrown the global health-care system into a chaotic flux. Consolidating and reviewing all available knowledge will be crucial to combating the spread of this novel coronavirus. Prevention is paramount, but health care workers are at increased risk, and protective supplies are being limited and being rationed. Common symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Hospitalizations are estimated to occur in about 20% of cases and are mostly due to pneumonia.[1] While multiple promising treatments are being reported in the medical literature; there is limited, reliable clinical data are available. To minimize exposure of medical staff to contagious patients and to provide rapid escalation of care to these patients, a telehealth strategy could be leveraged. Such a strategy would entail the use of both telemedicine visits for communication and digital health platforms for monitoring.

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The Global Health Service Partnership: An Innovative Program to Address Shortages of Pediatric Health Care Workers in Resource-Limited Settings

PEDIATRICS ◽

10.1542/peds.137.supplement_3.363a ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 137 (Supplement 3) ◽

pp. 363A-363A

Author(s):

Kiran Mitha ◽

David Ries ◽

Libby Cunningham ◽

Julie Anathan ◽

Sadath Sayeed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Service ◽

Global Health ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Resource Limited Settings ◽

Pediatric Health ◽

Pediatric Health Care ◽

Resource Limited ◽

Care Workers ◽

Innovative Program

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The impact of novel COVID-19 initial pandemic on orthopedic healthcare: an experience from a single institution of South Korea

Journal of Korean Medical Association ◽

10.5124/jkma.2021.64.11.778 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 64 (11) ◽

pp. 778-787

Author(s):

Gun Woo Lee ◽

Gi Beom Kim ◽

In Jun Lee

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Medical Staff ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

The Novel ◽

Preventive Surgery ◽

Care Workers ◽

Cancellation Rate ◽

Novel Coronavirus ◽

The Impact

Background: This study was to investigate the cancellation rate and trend of orthopedic surgeries during the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Moreover, we assessed the psychologic status of orthopedic healthcare workers, and investigated the details of the preventive surgeries underwent in COVID-19-positive patients.Methods: For 3 months after January 20, 2020, cancellation rates of elective surgeries were investigated, and the number of elective surgeries conducted in the same period over the last two years was compared. Four different questionnaires were used to investigate psychologic status among the orthopedic health care workers. We compared the outcomes according to occupation (physician or nurse), and type of work (faculty staff or resident physician). Outcomes according to occupation and type of work were compared. Preventive surgeries underwent in patients who could not wait for the results of the COVID-19 diagnosis were investigated.Results: Spine and hip surgery had relatively lower cancellation rates, and elective surgeries were significantly reduced. During the initial pandemic, the cancellation rate of orthopedic elective surgeries was significantly higher than in the same period of the previous year and was different for each subdivision depending on the degree of pain or disability. The psychological outcomes were within the normal range and there were no significant differences between groups. After preventive surgery, all medical staff involved in the operation tested negative.Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the cancellation rate of orthopedic elective surgeries was significantly higher than in the same period of the previous year. Orthopedic health care workers did not seem to have significant psychological distress. As a result of the preventive surgery in specialized facilities, all the medical staff who participated in the operation tested negative.

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PREVALENCE OF LATENT TB INFECTION AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKERS, ALJAZEERA STATE TB CENTERS, SUDAN

International Journal of Research -GRANTHAALAYAH ◽

10.29121/granthaalayah.v5.i12.2017.532 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (12) ◽

pp. 465-470

Author(s):

Juhaina Abdulraiem AL Mosharaf ◽

Adam Abdalla Mater

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Skin Test ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Latent Tuberculosis ◽

Health Care Facilities ◽

Control Measures ◽

Treatment Center ◽

Infection Control Measures ◽

Care Workers ◽

Increased Risk

Health care workers (HCW) are at increased risk of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) from occupational exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The objective was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for LTBI among primary HCW in Aljazeera state Sudan. We conducted an analytical study, among HCW in TB treatment center using a structured questionnaire and an evaluated for LTBI using the tuberculin skin test among 367 HCW, the LTBI prevalence was 35.7%. (64.5%), We found that the following factors associated with LTBI in HCW were in age group 30-40 years was 63% ,75.2% of the participants didn't do the skin test for TB, and the high risk among the lab technician represented 41.2%. Our study recommended implementation of sound TB infection control measures in all health care facilities with patients suspected of having infectious.

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Attitudes towards preventive tuberculosis treatment among hospital staff

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.1738 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 4 ◽

pp. e1738 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Vidya Pathak ◽

Zinta Harrington ◽

Claudia C. Dobler

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

Hospital Staff ◽

Test Results ◽

Tb Treatment ◽

Care Workers ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Latent Tb

Background.Healthcare workers have an increased risk of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), but previous studies suggested that they might be reluctant to accept preventive tuberculosis (TB) treatment. We aimed to examine doctors’ and nurses’ experience of TB screening and to explore their attitudes towards preventive TB treatment.Methods.We conducted a survey among randomly selected healthcare workers at a tertiary hospital in Sydney, Australia, using a paper-based questionnaire.Results.A total of 1,304 questionnaires were distributed and 311 (24%) responses were received. The majority of hospital staff supported preventive TB treatment in health care workers with evidence of latent TB infection (LTBI) in general (74%, 164/223) and for them personally (81%, 198/244) while 80 and 53 healthcare workers respectively had no opinion on the topic. Staff working in respiratory medicine were significantly less likely to support preventive TB treatment in health care workers in general or for them personally if they would have evidence of LTBI compared to other specialties (p= 0.001). Only 13% (14/106) of respondents with evidence of LTBI indicated that they had been offered preventive TB treatment. Twenty-one percent (64/306) of respondents indicated that they did not know the difference between active and latent TB. Among staff who had undergone testing for LTBI, only 33% (75/230) felt adequately informed about the meaning of their test results.Discussion.Hospital staff in general had positive attitudes towards preventive TB treatment, but actual treatment rates were low and perceived knowledge about LTBI was insufficient among a significant proportion of staff. The gap between high support for preventive TB treatment among staff and low treatment rates needs to be addressed. Better education on the concept of LTBI and the meaning of screening test results is required.

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Correlates of Health Care Workers’ Knowledge and HIV-Exposed Infant Immunization Counseling Practice in Northern Nigeria

International Journal of MCH and AIDS (IJMA) ◽

10.21106/ijma.432 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 55-65

Author(s):

Fatimah Hassan-Hanga ◽

Zubairu Iliyasu ◽

Sadiq Ajuji ◽

Musa M. Bello ◽

Safiyya Abdulkadir ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Global Health ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Northern Nigeria ◽

Infected Infant ◽

Care Workers ◽

Tertiary Center ◽

Exposed Infant ◽

Hiv Exposed ◽

Counseling Practices

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-exposed and HIV-infected infants are at increased risk of vaccine-preventable diseases. However, little is known about health care workers’ knowledge and immunization counseling practices in this population. We determined the predictors of health care workers’ knowledge of vertical transmission risks, HIV exposed/infected infant immunization, and counseling practices in a tertiary center in Northern Nigeria. Methods: A cross-section of 297 health workers were interviewed using a structured, validated questionnaire. Knowledge and HIV-exposed infant immunization counseling practices were analyzed, and adjusted odds ratios for predictors were derived from logistic regression models. Results: Of the 297 participating health care workers, (32.3%, n=96) had adequate knowledge of HIVexposed/infected infant immunization. Two-thirds (67%, n=199) of the participants appropriately identified the timing of infant diagnosis, while (73%, n=217) and (56.2%, n=167) correctly categorized infants as HIV-exposed and HIV-infected, respectively. Only (19.5%, n=58) participants had ever counselled a HIVpositive mother on infant immunization. Knowledge was predicted by work unit (HIV clinic vs. Obstetrics & Gynecology clinic), (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) =3.78, 95% CI: 1.27-5.54), age (30-39 vs. <30 years), (AOR=2.24, 95% CI:1.19-5.67), years of experience (≥10 vs. <5), (AOR=1.76, 95% CI: 1.15-6.04), number of children (1 vs. 0), (AOR=1.73, 95% CI:1.14-4.23), infant immunization training (yes vs. no), (AOR=1.57, 95% CI:1.12-5.43), female sex (AOR = 1.17, 95% CI:1.06-2.21), profession (nurse/midwife vs. physician), (AOR=0.44, 95% CI:0.21-0.94) and previous HIV test (no vs. yes), (AOR=0.67, 95% CI:0.21-0.83). Conclusion and Global Health Implications: Knowledge of HIV-exposed infant immunization was low and counseling practices were sub-optimal. Both immunization knowledge and counseling practices were predicted by demographic, professional, and training variables. Our findings indicate the need for educating health care workers on HIV exposed/infected infant immunization policy and improving counseling skills through capacity-building programs. Key words: • Knowledge • Health care workers • HIV • Infant • Immunization • Nigeria Copyright © 2021 Iliyasu et al. Published by Global Health and Education Projects, Inc. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY 4.0) which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work, first published in this journal, is properly cited.

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Development of an Objective Risk Stratification Tool to facilitate workplace assessments of healthcare workers when dealing with the CoViD-19 pandemic

10.1101/2020.05.05.20091967 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

W David Strain ◽

Janusz Jankowski ◽

Angharad Davies ◽

Peter MB English ◽

Ellis Friedman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

High Risk ◽

Risk Stratification ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

List Type ◽

Care Workers ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Objective Risk ◽

Risk Stratification Tool

SummaryHealthcare workers have a greater exposure to individuals with confirmed SARS-novel coronavirus 2, and thus a higher probability of contracting coronavirus disease (CoViD)-19, than the general population. Employers have a duty of care to minimise the risk for their employees. Several bodies including the Faculty of Occupational Medicine, NHS Employers, and Public Health England have published a requirement to perform risk assessments for all health care workers, however, with the absence of an objective risk stratification tool, comparing assessments between individuals is difficult if not impossible. Using published data, we explored the predictive role of basic demographics such as age, sex, ethnicity and comorbidities in order to establish an objective risk stratification tool that could help risk allocate duties to health care workers. We developed an objective risk stratification tool using a Caucasian female <50years of age with no comorbidities as a reference. Each point allocated to risk factors was associated with an approximate doubling in risk. This tool was then validated against the primary care-based analysis. This tool provides objective support for employers when determining which healthcare workers should be allocated to high-risk vs. lower risk patient facing clinical duties or to remote supportive roles.Strengths and limitations of this studyThere is an increased risk of mortality in the clinical workforce due to the effects of CoViD-19.This manuscript outlines a simple risk stratification tool that helps to quantify an individual’s biological riskThis will assist team leaders when allocating roles within clinical departments.This tool does not incorporate other external factors, such as high-risk household members or those at higher risk of mental health issues, that may require additional consideration when allocating clinical duties in an appropriate clinical domain.This population-based analysis did not explain for the very high risk observed in BAME healthcare workers suggesting there are other issues at play that require addressing. BAME healthcare workers suggesting there are other issues at play that require addressing.

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Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection and risk factors in health care workers

Przeglad Epidemiologiczny ◽

10.32394/pe.74.52 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 606-619

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Health Care Workers ◽

Medical Doctors ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

The People ◽

Reliable Assessment ◽

Care Workers ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Gender Knowledge ◽

Reporting Method

The COVID-19 pandemic verifies the preparation of medical care in individual countries in terms of the fluent of guaranteed medical services provided to the people in need. Due to the easy spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus when in direct contact with the patients, health care workers are at an increased risk of infection. Nurses and auxiliary staff, as well as medical doctors, were most frequently infected. The prevalence of infection depends on the adopted reporting method, including the diagnostic test used to recognize the infection, the nature of the work performed, but also on the gender, knowledge, and individual behavior of employees while performing their professional duties. It ranges from 5-30% depending on the country and the occupational group, and the highest rates were recorded in the initial phase of the pandemic. A review of the literature shows the lack of a uniform, transparent system of reporting infections in health care workers, which makes a reliable assessment of the epidemiological situation in this area difficult.

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