scholarly journals Smart Management of Healthcare Professionals Involved in COVID-19 Contrast With SWAPS

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paolo Bellavista ◽  
Marco Torello ◽  
Antonio Corradi ◽  
Luca Foschini
Keyword(s):  
Health Department ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Regional Health ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Risk Area ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Infected People ◽  
The University

The recent COVID-19 pandemic in Italy has highlighted several critical issues in the management process of infected people. At the health level, the management of the COVID-19 positive was mainly delegated to the regional authorities and centrally monitored by the State. Despite requested common activities (such as diagnosis of virus positivity, active surveillance of infected people and contact tracing), Regional Health Departments were able to issue specific directives in their territories and establish priority levels for each activity according to the specific needs related to the emergency in their area. The development of novel digital tools for the management of infected people become an urgent necessity to foster more organized and integrated solutions, able to quickly process large amounts of data. Mobile Crowdsensing methodologies could effectively facilitate needed lateral interviewing activities as well as the monitoring of crowds in environments with a high concentration of virus-positive subjects (such are hospital wards but also other locations), facilitating the tracing of possible outbreaks of contagion due to advanced geolocation techniques and big data analysis methods. This paper analyzes the functionality of SWAPS (Supporting Workflows for Healthcare Personnel management), a modular and scalable web platform which facilitate and reduces the management time of COVID positive health personnel within healthcare facilities. It also analyzes the possible integrations between SWAPS and ParticipACT, an advanced MCS platform developed by the University of Bologna that can help set up the alert notification in case of entry into a COVID risk area. This article surveys the current literature on software platforms to address COVID-19 and related tracing issues and presents the practical issues and on-the-field results obtained from the research developed by the University of Bologna by assisting the deployment of the proposed solution for a big Regional Health Department in the city of Bologna.

scholarly journals Evaluation and Follow-Up of Infectious Tuberculosis at the University of Ottawa

1995 ◽  
Vol 6 (5) ◽  
pp. 239-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ziad A Memish ◽  
Raymonde Hickey ◽  
Ian Gemmill
Keyword(s):  
Early Detection ◽  
Skin Testing ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Purified Protein Derivative ◽  
Chest X Ray ◽  
The University ◽  
Isoniazid Prophylaxis

A case of active infectious pulmonary tuberculosis (tb) in a recent immigrant to Canada was identified at the University of Ottawa. The student was attending classes regularly and coughing for six months before the diagnosis of infectious pulmonarytbwas made. Investigation carried out by the Ottawa-Carleton Health Department identified 871 student contacts. Of the 871 contacts, 773 (89%) were available for testing and follow-up. Initial skin testing with purified protein derivative (ppd) was positive in 149 contacts. Of the 602 contacts testing negative initially 399 (66%) returned for 12-week retesting. Eleven skin test converters were identified. All 160 contacts with positiveppdhad negative chest x-ray and were given isoniazid prophylaxis for six months. The estimated cost of the process of contact tracing, testing, follow-up and treatment was $34,036. Although pre-immigration screening policies fortbdo exist, additional pre- and postimmigration measures could help in the early detection of activetband the prevention of its spread.

The Research Unit of the Servizio di Psicologia Medica at the Institute of Psychiatry of the University of Verona, 1980–1991

1993 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 239-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Tansella
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Work ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Research Unit ◽  
Medical Psychology ◽  
Regional Health ◽  
Teaching Activities ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
Adult Psychiatry ◽  
The University

SynopsisThere has been an adult psychiatry research group within the Institute of Psychiatry of the University of Verona since 1970. However, in 1980, the University of Verona established a Chair in Medical Psychology and since that time a separate department gradually developed. This department, primarily devoted to epidemiological studies in mental health and to teaching activities, was later involved also in clinical work and was officially recognized by the Regional Health Department and by the Local Socio Health authorities (ULSS No. 25, Verona), as Servizio di Psicologia Medica. They provided additional financial support and new infrastructures not only for its clinical activities but also for research carried out in its Research Unit.

scholarly journals Saliva as a Biological Sample for COVID-19 Diagnosis?

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-110
Author(s):  
D. Kafle ◽  
D. Sapkota
Keyword(s):  
Biological Sample ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Effective Control ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Swab ◽  
Infected People ◽  
Active Involvement ◽  
Rapid Spread ◽  
The World ◽  
Saliva Collection

The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has become a severe global health problem affecting almost every country in the world. Compared to other coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 is considered to be more infectious thereby leading to a rapid spread of this disease across the world. The effective control of this disease relies on timely diagnosis, proper isolation, contact tracing of the infected people and segregation of vulnerable group from potential contamination. Currently, the gold standard diagnostic test for COVID-19 is real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using nasopharyngeal swab (NPS). However, NPS collection has several shortcomings. Besides requiring an active involvement of healthcare personnel and personal protective equipment (PPE), NPS collection is uncomfortable for the patient as it can induce coughing, gagging, vomiting and even bleeding. Evidence from current studies indicates that saliva has a potential to be useful as an alternative biological sample for COVID-19 diagnosis. Indeed, saliva as a biological sample offers several advantages over NPS. Saliva collection is better accepted by patients, it can be self-collected and does not require PPE and active involvement of healthcare personnel. Moreover, preliminary results indicate that the sensitivity and specificity of saliva for COVID-19 diagnosis is similar to that of NPS. This summarizes recent observations in the field and discusses the potential use of saliva for COVID-19 diagnosis.

scholarly journals Evolution-revolution-devolution

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ada Ducas ◽  
Tania Gottschalk ◽  
Analyn Cohen-Baker
Keyword(s):  
Information Access ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Regional Health ◽  
Knowledge Based ◽  
Health Authorities ◽  
University Of Manitoba ◽  
Manitoba Health ◽  
Regional Health Authorities ◽  
Access To Knowledge ◽  
The University

From 1993 to 2009 the University of Manitoba (UM), the Regional Health Authorities of Manitoba (RHAM), and the Manitoba Health Department signed affiliation agreements that changed the access to knowledge-based information for health professionals. These agreements transferred the management and delivery of library service from the home organizations to the UM Libraries. This three-part paper describes the events that led to the evolution of change in health information access in Winnipeg, subsequent revolutionary changes in the nature of the services, and their eventual devolution due to a significant array of unexpected challenges.

Vaccination and immunization status among healthcare students: results from the SAVES survey

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
S Rivolta ◽  
M Letzgus ◽  
F De Nard ◽  
M Gaiazzi ◽  
N Principi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Vaccination Coverage ◽  
Medical Residents ◽  
Natural Immunity ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
Healthcare Students ◽  
Immunization Status ◽  
Healthcare Professions ◽  
The University

Abstract Background Adequate vaccination coverage among healthcare workers, including students in healthcare professions (SHPs), is crucial in order to prevent spreading of infections within healthcare facilities. However, vaccination coverage among SHPs is often inadequate. We aimed to describe the vaccination/immunization status of SHPs of the University of Milan. Methods We spread an e-survey to the academic e-mail addresses of postgraduate medical residents and to first- and last-year undergraduate SHPs. The questionnaire covered sociodemographic data (age, sex, education, municipality of residence, internship in high-risk wards) and the reported vaccination/immunization status for Influenza (previous flu season), Varicella, MPR and DTaP vaccines. Results Among 5743 invited SHPs, 884 participated in the survey. The study sample comprised 462 medical residents and 422 undergraduate SHPs (medicine 176, nursery 186, midwifery 4, healthcare assistance 32, prevention techniques 24). Median age was 27 years (IQR 7); 68.4% participants were female; 91.3% had attended high school in a lyceum, while others in a professional (2.9%) or technical (5.8%) institute; 36.7% lived in municipalities of < 20.000 inhabitants, while 26.1% of > 250.000. Traineeships took place in high-risk wards for 46% of participants. Reported vaccination coverage for Influenza was 33,7% (with higher coverage for pediatric nursing and midwifery students, medicine students and medical residents). Participants reported immunity (either vaccine or natural immunity) to Varicella in 93,3% cases. Declared vaccination coverage for Hepatitis B was 94,1%; 91,7% participants reportedly completed the MPR schedule, 76,2% the recommended DTaP booster. Conclusions Influenza vaccination coverage was suboptimal in our sample of SHPs, suggesting the need of specific educational programs and targeted vaccination campaigns, which may help shaping a positive vaccination attitude for future healthcare professionals. Key messages Immunization status for VPDs is suboptimal among Italian students in healthcare professions. The monitoring of the immunization status should include healthcare students actively involved in healthcare activities.

Sharp Decrease of Reported Occupational Blood and Body Fluid Exposures in French Hospitals, 2003–2012: Results of the French National Network Survey, AES-RAISIN

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 963-968 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Floret ◽  
O. Ali-Brandmeyer ◽  
F. L’Hériteau ◽  
C. Bervas ◽  
S. Barquins-Guichard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Fluid ◽  
Sharp Decrease ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Significant Drop ◽  
Healthcare Facilities ◽  
National Network ◽  
The Past ◽  
Personnel Safety ◽  
Voluntary Basis

OBJECTIVETo assess the temporal trend of reported occupational blood and body fluid exposures (BBFE) in French healthcare facilities.METHODRetrospective follow-up of reported BBFE in French healthcare facilities on a voluntary basis from 2003 to 2012 with a focus on those enrolled every year from 2008 to 2012 (stable cohort 2008–12).FINDINGSReported BBFE incidence rate per 100 beds decreased from 7.5% in 2003 to 6.3% in 2012 (minus 16%). Percutaneous injuries were the most frequent reported BBFE (84.0% in 2003 and 79.1% in 2012). Compliance with glove use (59.1% in 2003 to 67.0% in 2012) and sharps-disposal container accessibility (68.1% in 2003 to 73.4% in 2012) have both increased. A significant drop in preventable BBFE was observed (48.3% in 2003 to 30.9% in 2012). Finally, the use of safety-engineered devices increased from 2008 to 2012.CONCLUSIONOf the 415,209 hospital beds in France, 26,158 BBFE could have occurred in France in 2012, compared with 35,364 BBFE in 2003. Healthcare personnel safety has been sharply improved during the past 10 years in France.Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol. 2015;36(8):963–968

scholarly journals STUDENTS’ MENTAL HEALTH RISKS REGARDING SUSCEPTIBILITY TO PEER PRESSURE

2021 ◽  
pp. 60-67
Author(s):  
Jasna Kudek Mirošević ◽  
Mirjana Radetić-Paić ◽  
Ivan Prskalo
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Young People ◽  
Health Behaviour ◽  
Peer Group ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Peer Pressure ◽  
Poor Mental Health ◽  
Positive Health ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The University

Given that adolescents and young people spend most of their time in the educational system, advancements in neurodevelopmental research emphasize the important and complex role of peers’ influence on adolescents’ behaviour, suggesting that supportive programmes led by peers have a strong potential benefit (King, & Fazel, 2019). In many cases peers are the most important source of social support, and are therefore an important target group to investigate the factors of risk, signs of poor mental health and ways to assess their health behaviour and awareness of the care which should be taken regarding their mental health, as well as the resources and prevention models. The wish is to study whether there are differences regarding the mental behaviour in certain characteristics of susceptibility to peer pressure as a risk for the mental health of students of the Faculty of Educational Sciences of the Juraj Dobrila University of Pula and students of the Faculty of Teacher Education of the University of Zagreb, Division of Petrinja (N=440). The set hypothesis states that there is a statistically significant difference among students of the faculty in Pula and those in Petrinja in their assessment of certain features of peer pressure susceptibility as a possible risk for mental health. The results obtained at the x2-test showed a statistically significant difference between certain peer pressure features among students regarding their study environment linked to hanging out with peers who consume drugs and being tempted to try them, getting involved in risky behaviours if their peers ask them to, and betting or gambling because their friends also do that. The results indicate that in smaller communities social control and conformity in the students’ behaviour is more present due to their wish to fit in a peer group as well as possible, suggesting the need for strengthening the positive health behaviour of young people during their whole education in order to secure a healthy and productive adult population.

scholarly journals Linking Staff Cases in a Hospital COVID-19 Outbreak Using Electronic Tracking Data

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
pp. s48-s48
Author(s):  
Pragya Dhaubhadel ◽  
Margie Pace ◽  
Trina Augustine ◽  
Seth Hostetler ◽  
Mark Shelly
Keyword(s):  
Tracking System ◽  
Contact Tracing ◽  
Healthcare Personnel ◽  
Hospital Unit ◽  
Respiratory Therapists ◽  
Voluntary Testing ◽  
Electronic Tracking ◽  
Nursing Station ◽  
Test Result ◽  
Close Contacts

Background: Significant outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 infections have occurred in healthcare personnel (HCP). We used an electronic tracking system (ETS) as a tool to link staff cases of COVID-19 in place and time during a COVID-19 outbreak in a community hospital. Methods: We identified SARS-CoV-2 infection cases through surveillance, case investigation and contact tracing, and voluntary testing. For those wearing ETS badges (Centrak), data were reviewed for places occupied by the personnel during their incubation and infectious windows. Contacts beyond 15 minutes in the same location were considered close contacts. Results: Over 6 weeks (August 10–September 14, 2020), 35 HCPs tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by NAAT testing. In total, 18 nurses and aides were clustered on 1 hospital unit, 7 cases occurred among respiratory therapists that visited that unit, and 10 occurred in other departments. Overall, 17 individuals wore ETS badges as part of hand hygiene monitoring. ETS data established potential transmission opportunities in 17 instances, all but 2 before symptom onset or positive test result. Contacts were most often (10 of 17) in common work areas (nursing stations), with a median time of 45 minutes (IQR, 21–137). Contacts occurred within and between departments. A few COVID-19 patients were cared for in this location at the time of the outbreak. However, we did not detect HCP-to-patient nor patient-to-HCP transmission. Conclusions: Significant HCP-to-HCP transmission occurred during this outbreak based on ETS location. These events often occurred in shared work areas such as the nursing station in addition to break areas noted in other reports. ETS systems, installed for other purposes, can serve to reinforce standard epidemiology.Funding: NoDisclosures: None

scholarly journals Case study of COVID 19 from August to end of December 2020 in Babylon, Iraq

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Herd Immunity ◽  
Health Department ◽  
Public Health Department ◽  
Infected People ◽  
The Public ◽  
Population Immunity ◽  
Previous Infection ◽  
Study Case ◽  
Indirect Protection

Objectives: The aim of study is to study Case study of COVID 19 in Babylon Province in Iraq. Method: In January 2021 we started searching for the official source for the numbers of people infected with COVID19 within the borders of Babylon Governorate, where the Babylon Health Department was reviewed, and after that we were directed with official authorization to the Public Health Department in Babylon Governorate / Department of Communicable Diseases / Respiratory Diseases Unit (weekly periodic visit). Where the official numbers were obtained for the number of infected people and the number of deaths that occur due to complication with this infection, as well as the number of recovery cases from the date of 01/08/2020 to 01/01/2021. Results: related to the number of infected cases we see decrease the no. of infected with corona virus in Babylon Governorate from beginning the study to become lest at the end of 2020 with the significant decrease (P < 0.05) (The highest infected cases were notices in first month (1/8 – 31/8) while the lowest cases were seen in last month (1/12 – 31/12)) that may be due to: The main cause may be the most people may have gained herd immunity or population immunity, is the indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population is have immunity developed through previous infection, that may refer to the end of first wave of this pandemic which start from the June. Conclusion: Knowing the pathogenesis of the virus and risk factors, increasing the experience of doctors and working cadres, increasing clinical capacity, providing specialized treatments, increasing the number of ICU beds, in addition to increasing the number of respiratory ventilators and increasing the number of tests.

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