scholarly journals COVID-19 and Face Masks – To Use or Not to Use!

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2 (Supp)) ◽  
pp. 240-243 ◽  
Author(s):  
Devraj Ramakrishnan
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Community Setting ◽  
Community Settings ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Surgical Masks ◽  
Time And Being ◽  
Limited Setting

COVID-19 has evolved into a pandemic in quick time and being a droplet infection, it was quickly understood that prevention is the key. People started to use all types of masks and there was a panic as stocks started running out. Health care workers must use a triple layered surgical mask and those exposed to aerosol generating procedures must use an N 95 mask and these should be kept reserved for them, especially in a resource limited setting.  Though initial advice from experts to the general public was not to use a mask in community settings unless they are sick or taking care of someone sick, the advice had to be later modified. Though CDC Atlanta currently advices everyone with no symptoms to wear cloth masks in the community, WHO opines there is no clear evidence to advise for or against mask use in the community. However, WHO encourages countries advising community mask use as it can generate useful evidence.  Along with mask use, practicing all other preventive measures such as handwashing, cough etiquette, social distancing, quarantine and isolation are of utmost importance, without which, using surgical masks or even N95 masks, will not be much effective in the community setting.

scholarly journals Survey of Behaviour Attitudes Towards Preventive Measures Following COVID-19 Vaccination

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniella Rahamim-Cohen ◽  
Sivan Gazit ◽  
Galit Perez ◽  
Barak Nada ◽  
Shay Ben Moshe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Public Policy ◽  
Policy Change ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Vaccination Program ◽  
Behavior Changes ◽  
Social Distancing ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Preventive Behaviour

Following the widespread vaccination program for COVID-19 carried out in Israel, a survey was conducted to preliminarily assess behavior changes in the vaccinated population, prior to the expected upcoming policy change as to mask wearing and social distancing regulation in Israel. 200 people answered at least one question pertaining to preventive behaviour. Among the respondents, 21.1% reported a decrease in mask wearing compared to 47.3% who reported a decrease in social distancing. There was no difference in these measures between the sexes. However, people under the age of 50 were more likely to decrease mask wearing (28.1%) and decrease social distancing (56.1%), as compared with people over the age of 50 (17.2% and 41.8%, respectively). Among health care workers, there was a minimal decrease in mask wearing (1/23 people) compared to a more widespread decrease in social distancing (10/23). These data suggest that preventive attitudes change following COVID-19 vaccination, with less adherence to social distancing as compared to mask wearing, and should be taken into account when planning public policy in the future.

scholarly journals Universal COVID-19 screening of 4040 health care workers in a resource-limited setting: an Egyptian pilot model in a university with 12 public hospitals and medical centers

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aya Mostafa ◽  
Sahar Kandil ◽  
Manal H El-Sayed ◽  
Samia Girgis ◽  
Hala Hafez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Care Facility ◽  
Public Hospitals ◽  
Public Health Care ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Suspected Case ◽  
Pilot Model ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Care Workers

Abstract Background The scale of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among health care workers (HCWs), particularly in resource-limited settings, remains unclear. To address this concern, universal (non-symptom-based) screening of HCWs was piloted to determine the proportion of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the associated epidemiological and clinical risk factors at a large public health care facility in Egypt. Methods Baseline voluntary screening of 4040 HCWs took place between 22 April and 14 May 2020 at 12 hospitals and medical centres in Cairo. Epidemiological and clinical data were collected using an online survey. All participants were tested for SARS-CoV-2 using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and rapid IgM and IgG serological tests. Results Of the 4040 HCWs screened, 170 [4.2%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.6-4.9] tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by either of the three tests (i.e. infected); 125/170 (73.5%) tested PCR-positive. Most infected HCWs were nurses (97/170, 57.5%). Median age of infected HCWs was 31.5 [interquartile range (IQR): 27.0–41.3] years. Of infected HCWs, 78 (45.9%) reported contact with a suspected case and 47 (27.6%) reported face-to-face contact within 2 m with a confirmed case. The proportion of infection among symptomatic HCWs (n = 54/616) was 8.8% (95% CI: 6.7-11.3); 6/54 (11.1%) had fever ≥38°C and 7/54 (13.0%) reported severe symptoms. Most infected HCWs were asymptomatic (116/170, 68.2%). The proportion of infection among asymptomatic HCWs (n = 116/3424) was 3.4% (95% CI: 2.8-4.0). Conclusions The high rate of asymptomatic infections among HCWs reinforces the need for expanding universal regular testing. The infection rate among symptomatic HCWs in this study is comparable with the national rate detected through symptom-based testing. This suggests that infections among HCWs may reflect community rather than nosocomial transmission during the early phase of the COVID-19 epidemic in Egypt.

scholarly journals EFFECT OF WEARING DIFFERENT TYPES OF FACE MASKS FOR PROLONGED PERIOD OF TIME ON BREATHLESSNESS & PERCEPTION IN HEALTH CARE WORKERS - AN OBSERVATIONAL STUDY

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (06) ◽  
pp. 464-475
Author(s):  
Rohit Sunil Bhavthankar ◽  
◽  
Arijit Kumar Das ◽  
Abhijit D. Diwate ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Good Choice ◽  
The Body ◽  
Posterior Aspect ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Surgical Masks ◽  
Different Types ◽  
N95 Respirators ◽  
The City

Background- The coronavirus disease, which originated in the city of Wuhan, China, has quickly spread to various countries, with many cases having been reported worldwide. As of May 8th, 2020, in India, 56,342 positive cases have been reported. Masks can help prevent the spread of the virus from the person wearing the mask to others. HCWs need to wear the mask for prolonged period of time as they come in contact with various people and so there are many adverse effects of the mask on the body such as breathlessness etc. Masks include mainly 3 types: N-95 respirators, surgical masks, cloth masks. Methods-The study was conducted at vikhe patil medical hospital and college of Physiotherapy, Ahmednagar.Pre and Post experiences of breathlessness and perception were compared. Result- We have analyzed that N-95 Respirators cause maximum Breathlessness compared to Surgical and cloth masks. In case of feeling stress, N-95 Respirators were the major reason, followed by Surgical Masks.Surgical and N95 Respirators create equal difficulties in communication.Causing pain on posterior aspect of the ear, as well as headache is seen more in N-95 respirators. But while using masks, N-95 has created less agitation compared to Surgical and Cloth Masks. Conclusion- We can conclude that even N-95 is major cause of difficulties, Other masks are creating near about same difficulties but N-95 gives maximum safety. So,preferring N-95 Respirators is a good choice even after having more difficulties.

scholarly journals Use of face mask in COVID-19 pandemic-a review

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 3750
Author(s):  
Santosh Kumar Swain ◽  
Pragnya Paramita Jena
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Virus Disease ◽  
Minimum Cost ◽  
Face Mask ◽  
Medical Community ◽  
Care Workers ◽  
Surgical Masks ◽  
The World ◽  
The Face

The current novel corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a highly infectious disease of the respiratory tract and rapidly spreading all over the world in short span of time. In current COVID-19 pandemic, use of the face mask is becoming usual and ubiquitous for both health care workers and public individuals. Wearing face mask is one of the non-pharmaceutical interventions which need minimum cost and provide dramatic response for preventing the COVID-19 infection. Limited availability of the vaccine and inadequate supply of therapeutic options, face mask use is an important part for public health measures for restricting the COVID-19 spread. Regardless of the debate among medical community regarding global face mask production shortage, a greater number of countries in the world are moving ahead with recommendations or mandates for using face mask in public. As currently global shortage of N95/FFP2 respirators and surgical masks for use by health care workers in the hospitals, simple cloth masks will act as a pragmatic solution for the use of the public. General public often use the surgical mask or even filtering facepiece (FFP) masks irrespective of their need, resulting unnecessary shortage for needy individuals those are exposed to the patients or those are health care workers. So, this review article will clarify the indication of the different types of masks and their rational use in the current COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals Level of Adherence to COVID-19 Preventive Measures Among Health Care Workers in Saudi Arabia

Cureus ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatimah I Albeladi ◽  
Maryam M Alluli ◽  
Khaled A Daghriri ◽  
Yahya H Almalki ◽  
Mousa Y Wafi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Care Workers

Occupational health in health care workers

2011 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 26-27
Author(s):  
Friedrich Hofmann ◽  
Ulrich Stößel
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Occupational Health ◽  
Musculoskeletal Disorders ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Health Care Workers ◽  
Occupational Medicine ◽  
Preventive Measures ◽  
Psychosocial Hazards ◽  
Care Workers

SummarySince the second half of the 20th century occupational health in health care workers is a well-established part of occupational medicine. Identification of environmental, biological, chemical, physical, and psychosocial hazards has lead to a number of preventive measures: Technical (e.g. use of safe instruments and double gloving as protection) and immunological (vaccinations) measures against biological hazards), and technical (lifting aides) and personal (back-schools) intervention to prevent musculoskeletal disorders are well-designed examples.

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