Symptomatic recurrence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in healthcare workers recovered from COVID-19

There is rising concern that patients who recover from COVID-19 may be at risk of recurrence. Increased rates of infection and recurrence in healthcare workers could cause the healthcare system collapse and a further worsening of the COVID-19 pandemic. Herein, we reported the clinically symptomatic recurrent COVID-19 cases in the two healthcare workers who treated and recovered from symptomatic and laboratory confirmed COVID-19. We discuss important questions in the COVID-19 pandemic waiting to be answered, such as the protection period of the acquired immunity, the severity of recurrence and how long after the first infection occurs. We aimed to emphasize that healthcare workers should continue to pay maximum attention to the measures without compromising.

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Battling the COVID-19 Pandemic: Is Bangladesh Prepared?

10.1101/2020.04.29.20084236 ◽

2020 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Hasinur Rahaman Khan ◽

Tamanna Howlader ◽

Md. Mazharul Islam

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Spatial Distribution ◽

Healthcare System ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Polynomial Regression ◽

Spatial Cluster ◽

Short Term ◽

Hospital Capacity ◽

Order Polynomial ◽

Frontline Healthcare Workers

Following detection of the first few COVID-19 cases in early March, Bangladesh has stepped up its efforts to strengthen capacity of the healthcare system to avert a crisis in the event of a surge in the number of cases. This paper sheds light on the preparedness of the healthcare system by examining the spatial distribution of isolation beds across districts and divisions, forecasting the number of ICU units that may be required in the short term and analyzing the availability of frontline healthcare workers to combat the pandemic. As of May 2, COVID-19 cases have been found in 61 of the 64 districts in Bangladesh with Dhaka District being the epicenter. Seventy-one percent of the cases have been identified in 6 neighboring districts, namely, Dhaka, Narayanganj, Gazipur, Narsingdi, Munsiganj and Kishoreganj, which appear to form a spatial cluster. However, if one takes into account the population at risk, the prevalence appears to be highest in Dhaka, followed by Narayanganj, Gazipur, Kishorganj, Narsingdi and Munshiganj. These regions may therefore be flagged as the COVID-19 hotspots in Bangladesh. Among the eight divisions, prevalence is highest in Dhaka Division followed by Mymensingh. The number of cases per million exceeds the number of available isolation beds per million in the major hotspots indicating that there is a risk of the healthcare system becoming overwhelmed should the number of cases rise. This is especially true for Dhaka Division, where the ratio of COVID-19 patients to doctors appears to be alarmingly high. Mymensingh Division also has a disproportionately small number of doctors relative to the number of COVID-19 patients. Using second order polynomial regression, the analysis predicts that even if all ICU beds are allocated to COVID-19 patients, Bangladesh may run out of ICU beds soon after May 15, 2020. We conclude that in spite of a significant increase in hospital capacity during 2005-15 and a 57 % rise in the number of doctors during the same period, the healthcare system in Bangladesh and Dhaka Division in particular, may not be fully prepared to handle the COVID-19 crisis. Thus, further steps need to be taken to flatten the curve and improve healthcare capacity.

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COVID-19 Vaccine Intention among Healthcare Workers in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Vaccines ◽

10.3390/vaccines9080835 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 835

Author(s):

Mohammed Noushad ◽

Mohammad Zakaria Nassani ◽

Anas B. Alsalhani ◽

Pradeep Koppolu ◽

Fayez Hussain Niazi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Saudi Arabia ◽

Healthcare System ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Vaccine Coverage ◽

Vaccination Campaign ◽

Herd Immunity ◽

Positive Sign ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Public Health Strategies

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused largescale morbidity and mortality and a tremendous burden on the healthcare system. Healthcare workers (HCWs) require adequate protection to avoid onward transmission and minimize burden on the healthcare system. Moreover, HCWs can also influence the general public into accepting the COVID-19 vaccine. Therefore, determining COVID-19 vaccine intention among HCWs is of paramount importance to plan tailor-made public health strategies to maximize vaccine coverage. A structured questionnaire was administered in February and March 2021 among HCWs in Saudi Arabia using convenience sampling, proceeding the launch of the vaccination campaign. HCWs from all administrative regions of Saudi Arabia were included in the study. In total, 674 out of 1124 HCWs responded and completed the survey (response rate 59.9%). About 65 percent of the HCWs intended to get vaccinated. The intention to vaccinate was significantly higher among HCWs 50 years of age or older, Saudi nationals and those who followed the updates about COVID-19 vaccines (p < 0.05). The high percentage (26 percent) of those who were undecided in getting vaccinated is a positive sign. As the vaccination campaign gathers pace, the attitude is expected to change over time. Emphasis should be on planning healthcare strategies to convince the undecided HCWs into accepting the vaccine in order to achieve the coverage required to achieve herd immunity.

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Encountering suicide in primary healthcare rehabilitation: the experiences of physiotherapists

BMC Psychiatry ◽

10.1186/s12888-020-03004-1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Åse Lundin ◽

Anna Bergenheim

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Healthcare System ◽

Primary Healthcare ◽

Qualitative Content Analysis ◽

Western Hemisphere ◽

Mental Wellbeing ◽

Healthcare Personnel ◽

Public Health Issue ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Patients At Risk

Abstract Background Suicide is a serious public health issue and one of the most common causes of death globally. Suicide has long-lasting impact on personal, relational, community and societal levels. Research has shown that patients often seek help in the primary healthcare system preceding a suicide. Studies exploring the experiences of encountering patients at risk for suicide have been performed among various categories of healthcare personnel, such as nurses and psychiatry residents as well as emergency room staff. There is a lack of research regarding primary healthcare rehabilitation staff, despite the fact that physiotherapists are the third largest health profession in the Western hemisphere and often work with patients experiencing mental health symptoms. The aim of this study was to explore the experiences of encountering patients at risk for suicide among physiotherapists working in a primary healthcare rehabilitation setting. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 physiotherapists working in primary healthcare rehabilitation clinics in the Gothenburg area, Sweden. The interviews were recorded on audio and transcribed into written text. A qualitative content analysis was performed on the material collected. Results The analysis of the material revealed an overarching theme, Through barriers and taboos – the physiotherapist finds a way, with five main categories: possibilities for identification, obstacles in meeting suicide, workplace environment matters, where does the patient belong? and education and experience are keys. Conclusions The present study indicates that physiotherapists in the primary healthcare system encounter patients experiencing suicidality, and they expressed a strong desire to care for both the physical and mental wellbeing of the patients. Despite reporting many barriers, the physiotherapists often found a way to form a meaningful therapeutic alliance with the patient and to ask about possible suicidality in their clinical practice. The result suggests that physiotherapists could play a larger role in working with patients experiencing suicidality in a primary healthcare setting and that they could be viewed as possible gatekeepers in identification as well as referral of these patients into other parts of the healthcare system.

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SAT0588 Healthcare workers are not more at risk to low back pain than other occupations

10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-eular.6750 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

F Kemta Lekpa ◽

MS Doualla ◽

HB Ngahane Mbatchou ◽

AS Mkoh ◽

H Namme Luma

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Low Back Pain ◽

Back Pain ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Low Back

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Nano Silver Coated Surgical Apparels and Phaco Needles for Safety of Ophthalmic Surgeons in View of COVID-19 Pandemic

The Open Ophthalmology Journal ◽

10.2174/1874364102115010009 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (1) ◽

pp. 9-12

Author(s):

Santosh Dnyanmote ◽

Jorge Alio ◽

Anuradha Dnyanmote

Keyword(s):

Healthcare System ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Respiratory Virus ◽

Hospital Staff ◽

Infected Person ◽

Source Of Infection ◽

Potential Source ◽

Corona Virus ◽

Co Morbidity ◽

Recent Outbreak

Background: In view of the recent outbreak of the pandemic caused by novel corona virus 19 (n-covid) which has thrown the overall healthcare system that has created fear, apprehension and anxiety amongst all surgeons. Ophthalmic surgeons are no exceptions. The new corona virus is a respiratory virus of the Coronoviridae family containing a single strand of RNA which spreads primarily through droplets generated when an infected person coughs or sneezes or through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose. A person can get infected by the virus if the person is within 1 meter of a person with COVID 19 or by touching contaminated surface and then touching eyes, nose or mouth. Methods: Standard recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19 include frequent cleaning of hands using alcohol based hand rubs or soap and water. Covering the nose and mouth with a proper mask, covering skin, eyes, hair, hands and legs with proper apparel is important. Just like elderly members of the society, the healthcare workers who have some co-morbidity are susceptible to COVID-19 invasion. Asymptomatic carriers who may present with senile or pre-senile cataract can be a potential source of infection to other patients, hospital staff, surgeons and others. Conclusion: It is important that all the microsurgical instruments which will be used for phacoemulsification be properly sterilized. The surfaces of these instruments should remain free of contaminants as these instruments will be used multiple times in other patients as well.

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Healthcare workers and measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) status: how worried should we be about further outbreaks?

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268813002859 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 142 (8) ◽

pp. 1688-1694 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

S. BASU ◽

P. GIRI ◽

A. ADISESH ◽

R. McNAUGHT

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Age Groups ◽

Positive Serology ◽

Entry Level ◽

Point Of Entry ◽

The Uk

SUMMARYRecently, a number of outbreaks of measles and mumps have occurred within the UK and Europe. Healthcare workers (HCWs) are at risk of contracting and transmitting disease to patients and staff. To examine this risk at the point of entry to healthcare, we assessed the serological results of new HCWs presenting for pre-placement clearance without evidence of measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) immunity between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2012. Overall rates of serological positivity to MMR across all age groups were 88·2%, 68·8% and 93·9%, respectively. With regard to measles and mumps, there were statistically significant decreases in the percentage of HCWs born after 1980 that had positive serology (P < 0·05). No such differences were seen between healthcare groups. Most seronegative HCWs accepted MMR vaccination. Despite our entry-level findings, the ongoing risk of a MMR outbreak within this cohort of HCWs appears low.

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Vaccinate people at risk and healthcare workers against flu, says European public health office

BMJ ◽

10.1136/bmj.b127 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 338 (jan13 2) ◽

pp. b127-b127

Author(s):

R. Watson

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

At Risk ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

European Public ◽

Public Health Office

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Healthcare workers are at risk of acute or post-traumatic stress and psychological distress during emerging virus outbreaks

Evidence-Based Nursing ◽

10.1136/ebnurs-2020-103317 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. ebnurs-2020-103317

Author(s):

Elaheh Haghgoshayie ◽

Edris Hasanpoor

Keyword(s):

At Risk ◽

Psychological Distress ◽

Traumatic Stress ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Post Traumatic Stress ◽

Emerging Virus ◽

Post Traumatic

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Healthcare workers’ legal liability and immunity during the COVID-19 pandemic

Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness ◽

10.1017/dmp.2020.449 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-8

Author(s):

Nasser Hammad Al-Azri

Keyword(s):

Public Good ◽

Healthcare System ◽

Disaster Response ◽

Healthcare Workers ◽

Healthcare Professionals ◽

Legal Liability ◽

Working Environment ◽

The Public ◽

Healthcare Workforce ◽

Healthcare Practice

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic is the most unprecedented crisis facing modern healthcare governance in a century. Many healthcare activities are attracting scrutiny from ethical and legal perspectives. Therefore, healthcare professionals are concerned about legal ambiguity regarding legal liability and immunity in their areas of practice. Law is a key response activity that promotes a sense of safety and security among healthcare workers. This article describes why it is important formally to address issues of altered operations in healthcare practice during emergencies. Furthermore, this article provides suggestions regarding solutions to the issue of legal liability during disasters. Implementing ethical and legal clarity during disaster response is a necessity for a strong healthcare system at every level from international to local in order to achieve a stable healthcare workforce operating for the public good within a safe and secure working environment.

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