scholarly journals A nosocomial measles outbreak in Italy, February-April 2017

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (33) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Porretta ◽  
Filippo Quattrone ◽  
Francesco Aquino ◽  
Giulio Pieve ◽  
Beatrice Bruni ◽  
...  

We describe a nosocomial outbreak of measles that occurred in an Italian hospital during the first months of 2017, involving 35 persons and including healthcare workers, support personnel working in the hospital, visitors and community contacts. Late diagnosis of the first case, support personnel not being promptly recognised as hospital workers and diffusion of the infection in the emergency department had a major role in sustaining this outbreak.

2003 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 199-203 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Larrosa ◽  
M Cortés-Blanco ◽  
S. Martinez ◽  
C Clerencia ◽  
L J Urdaniz ◽  
...  

An outbreak of scabies occurred in a ward of a local hospital in Barbastro (Huesca, Spain), between November 2002 and January 2003. The outbreak was linked to a patient infested with mites when he was admitted to the ward on 1 November 2002. The first case had onset of symptoms on 5 November and the last one on 5 January 2003. Seventeen cases were reported: 11 healthcare workers (HCWs) and six patients.The outbreak was attributed to a delay in diagnosis, and lack of individual protection measures by caregivers. The use of short-sleeved coats is an habitual risk practice in this ward. Contact with fomites, animals, infested clothes or intimate contact with people other than their usual partners were dismissed as risk factors for the infestation. The different groups of caregivers in this ward presented a similar risk of becoming infested, and the mechanism of transmission was probably person to person contact. The implementation of specific guidelines for scabies prevention and treatment, as well as an active surveillance system, were fundamental to the control of this outbreak.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Haroon ◽  
S. S. Owais ◽  
A. S. Khan ◽  
J. Amin

Summary COVID-19 has challenged the mental health of healthcare workers confronting it world-wide. Our study identifies the prevalence and risk of anxiety among emergency healthcare workers confronting COVID-19 in Pakistan. We conducted a cross-sectional survey in an Emergency Department using the Generalized Anxiety Scale (GAD-7), and questions about sources of anxiety. Of 107 participants, 61.7% were frontline workers. The prevalence of anxiety was 50.5%. Nonparametric tests determined that nurses, younger and inexperienced staff, developed significant anxiety. Multivariate ordinal regression determined independent risk factors for developing anxiety were younger age (OR 2.11, 95% CI 0.89–4.99) and frontline placement (OR 1.34, 95% CI 0.33–1.66). Significant sources of stress were fear of infecting family (P = 0.003), lack of social support when the health care providers were themselves unwell (P = 0.02) and feelings of inadequate work performance (P = 0.05). Our study finds that HCWs’ anxiety is considerable. Appropriate measures for its alleviation and prevention are required.


Author(s):  
Fulwah Alqahtani ◽  
Marzouqah Alanazi ◽  
Wajdan Alassaf ◽  
Fadilah Sfouq Aleanizy ◽  
Muna Aljahany ◽  
...  

Abstract Objectives This study aimed to describe the development and implementation of a separated pathway to check and treat patients with a suspected/confirmed coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the emergency department (ED) at King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz University Hospital in Riyadh. Methods We conducted a retrospective, descriptive longitudinal study from March to July 2020 by analyzing data of all confirmed cases of COVID-19 among ED visitors and healthcare workers in King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz University Hospital. Results During the study period, a total of 1,182 swab samples were collected for testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), of which 285 (24.1%) tested positive. Of the 285 cases of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection, 18 were healthcare workers and 267 were patients. As a result of using the respiratory pathway for COVID-19 patients, the hospital managed to limit transmission of SARS-CoV-2 not only between patients but also between patients and healthcare workers, while also containing the pandemic. There were no cases of nosocomial SARS-CoV-2 infection recorded among the patients who visited the ED or the flu clinic. All confirmed cases were community acquired and patients were cared for under constrained measures. Conclusions Implementing infection control measures and restricting those with respiratory symptoms to the ED pathway prevented nosocomial spread of SARS-CoV-2 infection in the ED.


Author(s):  
Adrianna Bella ◽  
Mochamad Thoriq Akbar ◽  
Gita Kusnadi ◽  
Olivia Herlinda ◽  
Putri Aprilia Regita ◽  
...  

(1) Background: because of close contacts with COVID-19 patients, hospital workers are among the highest risk groups for infection. This study examined the socioeconomic and behavioral correlates of COVID-19 infection among hospital workers in Indonesia, the country hardest-hit by the disease in the Southeast Asia region. (2) Methods: we conducted a cross-sectional study, which collected data from 1397 hospital staff from eight hospitals in the Greater Jakarta area during April–July 2020. The data was collected using an online self-administered questionnaire and Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) tests. We employed descriptive statistics and adjusted and unadjusted logistic regressions to analyze the data of hospital workers as well as the subgroups of healthcare and non-healthcare workers. (3) Results: from a total of 1397 hospital staff in the study, 22 (1.6%) were infected. In terms of correlates, being a healthcare worker (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 8.31, 95% CI 1.27–54.54) and having a household size of more than five (AOR = 4.09, 1.02–16.43) were significantly associated with a higher risk of infection. On the other hand, those with middle- and upper-expenditure levels were shown to have a lower risk of infection (AOR = 0.06, 0.01–0.66). Behavioral factors associated with COVID-19 infection among healthcare and non-healthcare workers included knowledge of standard personal protective equipment (PPE) (AOR = 0.08, 0.01–0.54) and application of the six-step handwashing technique (AOR = 0.32, 0.12–0.83). (4) Conclusion: among hospital staff, correlates of COVID-19 infection included being a healthcare worker, household size, expenditure level, knowledge and use of PPE, and application of appropriate hand washing techniques.


Author(s):  
Roshan Mathew ◽  
Ritin Mohindra ◽  
Ankit Sahu ◽  
Rachana Bhat ◽  
Akshaya Ramaswami ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Occupational hazards like sharp injury and splash exposure (SISE) are frequently encountered in health-care settings. The adoption of standard precautions by healthcare workers (HCWs) has led to significant reduction in the incidence of such injuries, still SISE continues to pose a serious threat to certain groups of HCWs. Materials and Methods This was a retrospective study which examined the available records of all patients from January 2015 to August 2019 who self-reported to our emergency department with history of sharp injury and/or splash exposure. Details of the patients, mechanism of injury, the circumstances leading to the injury, status of the source (hepatitis B surface antigen, human immunodeficiency virus, and hepatitis C virus antibody status), and the postexposure prophylaxis given were recorded and analyzed. Data were represented in frequency and percentages. Results During the defined period, a total of 834 HCWs reported with SISE, out of which 44.6% were doctors. Majority of the patients have SISE while performing medical procedures on patients (49.5%), while 19.2% were exposed during segregation of waste. The frequency of needle stick injury during cannulation, sampling, and recapping of needle were higher in emergency department than in wards. More than 80% of HCWs received hepatitis B vaccine and immunoglobulin postexposure. Conclusion There is need for periodical briefings on practices of sharp handling as well as re-emphasizing the use of personal protective equipment while performing procedures.


2016 ◽  
Vol 214 (12) ◽  
pp. 1980-1986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan J. M. Hahné ◽  
Laura M. Nic Lochlainn ◽  
Nathalie D. van Burgel ◽  
Jeroen Kerkhof ◽  
Jussi Sane ◽  
...  

2003 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 248-252
Author(s):  
CL Lau ◽  
KL Chung ◽  
CW Kam

A 2-year-old boy was accidentally poisoned by one spoonful of organophosphate insecticide and presented in cardiac arrest. Spontaneous circulation was restored after initial resuscitation and antidote therapy (atropine and pralidoxime) but the boy finally succumbed with multiple complications. We reviewed the literature on the clinical features and management of acute organophosphate poisoning, and the appropriate protective equipment for preventing secondary poisoning of healthcare workers.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noor Hafizah Abdul Salim ◽  
Mohd Hisham Isa ◽  
Keng Sheng Chew ◽  
Mohd Zairul Mohd Noor ◽  
Azlan Helmy Abd Samat

Abstract Background Workplace violence faced in the Emergency Department is well documented. However, there is minimal local data found in the literature. An exploration regarding workplace violence in a local setting is undertaken. This study examined the coping response to the occurrence of workplace violence encountered by an Emergency and Trauma Department healthcare workers. Method The study was done in one of the Emergency and Trauma Department of a tertiary government hospital in Malaysia. A period of a month was taken for data collection. Inclusion criteria includes healthcare workers who had exposure to work- place violence and agreeable to participate in the study. Incident reports were examined and semi-structured in-depth interview of various level of healthcare staff were conducted. Results Three final themes were identified in the way healthcare workers response to workplace violence; First, coping in pre-crisis phase to prevent a violent incident from occurring -mental and behavioural preparedness; Two, coping during crisis to prevent escalation of violence- self-restraint, constructive confrontation, seeking instrumental support; Three, coping after crisis to adapt emotionally and improve knowledge in managing workplace violence-seeking emotional support, disengagement, adaptation. Conclusions The method of coping response employed by participants corresponded to the level of violence exhibited by perpetrator. Multicentre study will help to broaden the understanding of WPV in Malaysia


Author(s):  
Muhammad Farid Bin Zainal Abidin ◽  
Nur Farhana Binti Zainan ◽  
Mafeitzeral Bin Mamat ◽  
Sivasankar Pubalan ◽  
Mohd Syahfadzreen Bin Yunus

Introduction: The district of Semporna, Sabah was majorly hit by the third wave surge of COVID-19 in September 2020. At the peak of the crisis, services in Semporna Hospital were paralyzed with 40 healthcare workers (HCW) found to be COVID-19 positive; contributing to 14% of the total manpower.Objectives: Due to the immediate crisis, the main priority was to control the spread of COVID- 19 amongst the Semporna Hospital HCWs. This was important to curb direct infection from handling suspected patients seeking treatment in Semporna Hospital. Based on the hospital capabilities and resources, a comprehensive modified protocol was needed to control the situation.Methods: Semporna Hospital pandemic emergency task force was established with the presence of multi department and specialties. Multiple issues were raised and attended to, especially; issue of preparedness, low PPE stock and Emergency Department infrastructure.Results: The number of Semporna Hospital HCWs infected with COVID-19 was minimal after the initial disaster. Emergency Department infrastructure was improvised, workflow processes modified, HCW protection education prioritized and complete PPE sets were stocked up. All these efforts were under the strict supervision of the infectious control unit. The presence of multiple units of Powered Air-Purifying Respirator (PAPR) completed our adherence to the Ministry of Health (MOH) guidelines in managing the highly infectious level 4 patients for aerosolized generating procedures (AGP).Conclusion: This achievement can be used as a preparedness reference for other non-specialist district hospitals in Malaysia.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Supplementary Issue: 2021 Page: S21


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