scholarly journals Standard Operating Protocol: Operating on COVID-19 patients

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-71
Author(s):  
Amit Thapa ◽  
Krishna Sharma ◽  
Prabin Shrestha
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Standard Operating Procedure ◽  
Neurosurgical Procedures ◽  
Gear Up ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Standard Operating ◽  
The Status

Due to lack of scientific evidence, guidelines cannot be formulated. Hence this protocol would serve as STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE (SOP) for performing neurosurgical procedures on COVID-19 suspect, probable or positive cases. This SOP is based on recommendations from various societies and experiences of the hospitals involved in care of patients with COVID-19. As the status of COVID-19 in Nepal change along with refinement in knowledge of the disease and its management, SOP would be updated. Objective is to “Serve with caution”. Nepal is presently in phase 2 of Global COVID-19 p The doubling time for active infections is shortening over the last two weeks (Figure 1). The healthcare facilities have to gear up and prepare to face the worst with the most efficient use of available resources. Neurosurgical emergencies may arise in COVID-19 patients (suspect or probable or positive) who are being managed in isolated wards or ICU. Such patients cannot be operated in routine operating rooms nor kept in routine ICU, as they pose threat of transmission of infection to other patients and health care workers (HCW). COVID-19 patients undergoing aerosol generating procedures (AGPs) pose higher risk of transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Special isolation precautions should be adopted by all health care workers (HCW) with specific protocols to stay safe as well as manage the case efficiently.

scholarly journals Symptoms in Health Care Workers during the COVID-19 Epidemic. A Cross-Sectional Survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (14) ◽  
pp. 5218 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Magnavita ◽  
Giovanni Tripepi ◽  
Reparata Rosa Di Prinzio
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Significant Risk ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Care Workers

In March–April 2020, the Corona Virus Disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic suddenly hit Italian healthcare facilities and in some of them many staff members became infected. In this work 595 health care workers from a public company were tested for Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (82 positive) and asked to complete a questionnaire on early COVID-19 symptoms. Respiratory symptoms were present in 56.1% of cases. Anosmia and dysgeusia in COVID-19 cases were found to have an odds ratio (OR) = 100.7 (95% Confidence Interval [CI] = 26.5–382.6) and an OR = 51.8 (95%CI 16.6–161.9), respectively. About one in three of the cases (29.3%) never manifested symptoms. Anxiety was reported by 16.6% of COVID-19 cases and depression by 20.3%, with a significant increase in the estimated risk (OR = 4.3; 95%CI = 2.4–7.4 for anxiety, OR = 3.5; 95%CI = 2.0–6.0 for depression). In cases, sleep was a significant moderating factor in the relationship between occupational stress, or organizational justice, and anxiety. The early diagnosis of COVID-19 in health care workers, must consider, in addition to respiratory disorders and fever, anosmia, dysgeusia, exhaustion, myalgias and enteric disorders. The frequency of anxiety and depression disorders in the population examined was not higher than that commonly recorded in the same company during periodic checks in the years preceding the epidemic. In COVID-19 cases there was a significant risk of anxiety, especially in those who had low sleep quality. Mental health support and improvement interventions must mainly concern workers with positive tests and should also tend to improve sleep quality.

scholarly journals Use of medical face masks versus particulate respirators as a component of personal protective equipment for health care workers in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
John Conly ◽  
◽  
W. H. Seto ◽  
Didier Pittet ◽  
Alison Holmes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Routine Care ◽  
World Health ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Contact Mode ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Currently available evidence supports that the predominant route of human-to-human transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 is through respiratory droplets and/or contact routes. The report by the World Health Organization (WHO) Joint Mission on Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China supports person-to-person droplet and fomite transmission during close unprotected contact with the vast majority of the investigated infection clusters occurring within families, with a household secondary attack rate varying between 3 and 10%, a finding that is not consistent with airborne transmission. The reproduction number (R0) for the SARS-CoV-2 is estimated to be between 2.2–2.7, compatible with other respiratory viruses associated with a droplet/contact mode of transmission and very different than an airborne virus like measles with a R0 widely cited to be between 12 and 18. Based on the scientific evidence accumulated to date, our view is that SARS-CoV-2 is not spread by the airborne route  to  any significant extent and the use of particulate respirators offers no advantage over medical masks as a component of personal protective equipment for the routine care of patients with COVID-19 in the health care setting. Moreover, prolonged use of particulate respirators may result in unintended harms. In conjunction with appropriate hand hygiene, personal protective equipment (PPE) used by health care workers caring for patients with COVID-19 must be used with attention to detail and precision of execution to prevent lapses in adherence and active failures in the donning and doffing of the PPE.

Neurosurgical capacity building in the developing world through focused training

2014 ◽  
Vol 121 (6) ◽  
pp. 1526-1532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dilantha B. Ellegala ◽  
Lauren Simpson ◽  
Emanuel Mayegga ◽  
Emanuel Nuwas ◽  
Hayte Samo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Postoperative Complications ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Neurosurgical Procedures ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Outcome Information ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Resource Poor

Object In Tanzania, there are 4 neurosurgeons for a population of 46 million. To address this critical shortage of neurosurgical care, the authors worked with local Tanzanian health care workers, neurosurgeons, the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, and the Office of the President of Tanzania to develop a train-forward method for sustainable, self-propagating basic and emergency neurosurgery in resource-poor settings. The goal of this study was to assess the safety and effectiveness of this method over a 6-year period. Methods The training method utilizes a hands-on bedside teaching technique and was introduced in 2006 at a remote rural hospital in northern Tanzania. Local health care workers were trained to perform basic and emergency neurosurgical procedures independently and then were taught to train others. Outcome information was retrospectively collected from hospital records for the period from 2005 (1 year before method implementation) through 2010. Analysis of de-identified data included descriptive statistics and multivariable assessment of independent predictors of complications following a patient's first neurosurgical procedure. Results By 2010, the initial Tanzanian trainee had trained a second Tanzanian health care worker, who in turn had trained a third. The number of neurosurgical procedures performed increased from 18 in 2005 to an average of 92 per year in the last 3 years of the study period. Additionally, the number of neurosurgical cases performed independently by Tanzanian health care providers increased significantly from 44% in 2005 to 86% in 2010 (p < 0.001), with the number of complex cases independently performed also increasing over the same time period from 34% to 83% (p < 0.001). Multivariable analysis of clinical patient outcome information to assess safety indicated that postoperative complications decreased significantly from 2005 through 2010, with patients who had been admitted as training progressed being 29% less likely to have postoperative complications (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.52–0.96, p = 0.03). Conclusions The Madaktari Africa train-forward method is a reasonable and sustainable approach to improving specialized care in a resource-poor setting.

scholarly journals Resuming elective surgeries in Corona pandemic from the perspective of a developing country

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yogesh Kumar Sarin
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Developing Countries ◽  
Developing Country ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Patient Population ◽  
Elective Surgery ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Surgical Services ◽  
Care Workers

Since the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare facilities have entered into a “crisis mode”. One of the measures used to allow hospitals to surge their capacity and serve the patient population with COVID-19 infection was the suspension of elective activity, most importantly elective surgery and other procedures. Now as the infection is fading, efforts are being made to resume elective surgical services keeping in mind the safety of the patient and health care workers. Resuming surgical services in developing countries is an uphill task. 

scholarly journals Provision of Endodontic Treatment in Dentistry amid COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Clinical Recommendations

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Farooq Ahmad Chaudhary ◽  
Ayesha Fazal ◽  
Muhammad Mohsin Javaid ◽  
Muhammad Waqar Hussain ◽  
Ammar Ahmed Siddiqui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Case Reports ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Standard Operating Procedures ◽  
Dental Procedures ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Dental Staff ◽  
Standard Operating

Background. The risk of acquiring COVID-19 during a pandemic is a major concern among health care workers. Dental professionals being in close proximity to the patients had been exposed more than other health care workers. Hence, all the standard operating procedures (SOPs) are strictly advised to be followed. Methods. A detailed relevant literature search was conducted in international databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct, from January 2020 to November 2020. All the studies that provided recommendations regarding endodontic procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic were included, and those that were not in the English language, case reports, book chapters, and short communications were excluded in this review. In the end, only 6 articles were selected for the systematic review considering that complete information regarding the provision of dental care in the time of COVID-19 with diagnostic accuracy (STARD) was provided. Results. Endodontic treatments were restricted to only emergency dental procedures, and all other patients have advised medications and catered through teledentistry. Endodontic emergencies were advised to be carried out with minimal aerosol production procedures. Conclusion. Provision of endodontic care during COVID-19 restricted to only emergency dental procedures by strictly following standard operating procedures. A protocol for COVID-19 prevention was followed by all the dentists and the dental staff in the dental clinics.

scholarly journals Workplace violence towards Congolese health care workers: A survey of 436 healthcare facilities in Katanga province, Democratic Republic of Congo

2015 ◽  
Vol 57 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Basilua Andre Muzembo ◽  
Lukuke Hendrick Mbutshu ◽  
Nlandu Roger Ngatu ◽  
Kaj Francoise Malonga ◽  
Masamitsu Eitoku ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Workplace Violence ◽  
Democratic Republic ◽  
Democratic Republic Of Congo ◽  
Republic Of Congo ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Care Workers

Management of Varicella-Vaccinated Patients and Employees Exposed to Varicella in the Healthcare Setting

2003 ◽  
Vol 24 (7) ◽  
pp. 538-543 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna J. Haiduven ◽  
Carmen P. Hench ◽  
Sandy M. Simpkins ◽  
Kathleen E. Scott ◽  
David A. Stevens
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Healthcare Setting ◽  
Prodromal Symptoms ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Hospital Infection Control ◽  
Original Report ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
National Surveillance System

Varicella exposures from patients, visitors, and staff continue to occur in healthcare facilities. In a recent report from the National Surveillance System for Health Care Workers, 9 participating hospitals reported 72 varicella exposures from 1996 to 1999, involving 1,111 health-care workers. Depending on the patient and employee demographics for any particular healthcare institution, the number of these exposures can vary. Many healthcare facilities follow the guidelines of the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee for non-immune employees exposed to varicella. These guidelines recommend that such employees be excluded from duty from 8 to 21 days after exposure to varicella. There is no standard definition of what constitutes exposure to varicella, which can result in employees' being excluded from duty on one or more occasions without having contracted chickenpox. We previously reported our experience of allowing non-immune employees exposed to varicella to work while wearing masks, checking daily for prodromal symptoms, and excluding these employees from duty only if such symptoms occurred. Since our original report from 1994, we have continued this practice without adverse consequences.

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