A strategy for disaster preparedness in obstetrics

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 207-213
Author(s):  
Kay Daniels, MD ◽  
Manju Monga, MD ◽  
Saloni Gupta ◽  
Gillian Abir, MBChB, FRCA ◽  
M. Chanisse ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Disaster Planning ◽  
The United States ◽  
Pediatric Emergency ◽  
World Health ◽  
Hospital Units ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

Background: Many hospital units, including obstetric (OB) units, were unprepared when the novel coronavirus began sweeping through communities. National and international bodies, including the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control Prevention, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, directed enormous efforts to present the latest evidence-based practices to healthcare institutions and communities. The first hospitals that were affected in China and the United States (US) did heroic work in assisting their colleagues with best practices they had acquired. Despite these resources, many US hospitals struggled with how to best incorporate and implement this new information into disaster plans, and many protocol changes had to be established de novo. In general, disaster planning for OB units lagged behind other disaster planning performed by specialties such as emergency medicine, trauma, and pediatrics.Participants: Fortunately, two pre-existing collaborative disaster groups, the OB Disaster Planning Workgroup and the Western Regional Alliance for Pediatric Emergency Management, were able to rapidly deploy during the pandemic due to their pre-established networks and shared goals.Main outcome: These groups were able to share best practices, identify and address knowledge gaps, and disseminate information on a broad scale. The case will be made that the OB community needs to establish more such regional and national disaster committees that meet year-round. This will ensure that in times of urgency, these groups can increase the cadence of their meetings, and thus rapidly disperse time-sensitive policies and procedures for OB units nationwide.Conclusion: Given the unique patient population, it is imperative that OB units establish regional coalitions to facilitate a coordinated response to local and national disasters.

scholarly journals Inclusive Policymaking Tools: A COVID-19 Pandemic Case Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (01) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ans Irfan ◽  
Ankita Arora ◽  
Christopher Jackson ◽  
Celina Valencia
Keyword(s):  
Best Practices ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Equity And Inclusion

World Health Organization (WHO) estimates indicate the United States of America has the highest novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) burden in the world, with over 5 million confirmed cases and nearly 165,000 associated deaths as of August 14th, 2020 (WHO 2020). As the COVID-19 mortality and morbidity has disproportionately impacted populations who experience vulnerabilities due to structural issues such as racism (Laurencin and McClinton 2020; Lin II and Money 2020; Martin 2020; Kim et al. 2020), it has become increasingly necessary to take this opportunity and intentionally codify diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in the policymaking process. To encourage and facilitate this, we synthesize existing literature to identify best practices that can not only be used to inform COVID-19-related public policy activities but will also continue to inform inclusive policymaking processes in the future. We identify specific tools for policymakers at all levels of government to better operationalize the DEI framework and enact inclusive, equitable public policies as a result.

scholarly journals Between “Essential Services” and Culpable Homicide

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 129-151
Author(s):  
Danielle N. Boaz
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
Religious Communities ◽  
Religious Leaders ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Essential Services ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared covid-19—the disease caused by the novel coronavirus—a global pandemic. As this coronavirus spread throughout the world, most countries implemented restrictions on public gatherings that greatly limited religious communities’ ability to engage in collective worship. Some religious leaders objected to these regulations, opining that faith would spare their congregants from illness or that their religious freedom is paramount to public health. Meanwhile, growing numbers of covid-19 infections were being traced back to religious leaders or gatherings. This article explores how governments have balanced freedom of worship and public health during the 2020 pandemic. Through the comparison of controversies in South Korea, India, Brazil and the United States, it highlights the paradoxes in debates about whether to hold religious communities accountable for the spread of this highly contagious and deadly disease.

scholarly journals The Trend Distribution and Temporal Pattern Analysis of COVID-19 Pandemic using GIS framework in Malaysia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohd Sahrul Syukri Yahya ◽  
Edie Ezwan Mohd Safian ◽  
Burhaida Burhan
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Pattern ◽  
Pattern Analysis ◽  
Spatial Information ◽  
Human Life ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
Emergency Case ◽  
Respiratory Problems ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

Currently, the most severe infectious disease was the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in all countries in 2019 and 2020. At the end of December 2019, in Wuhan, China, there was an international cluster of cases involving Novel Coronavirus pneumonia (SARS-COV-2). The worldwide number of active cases and deaths is rising, especially in the top countries such as the United States (U.S), Brazil, and India. In Malaysia, these cases of COVID-19 have significantly decreased the number of active infections and deaths in May and June 2020. COVID-19 has had a significant effect on human life, socio-economic growth, and public relation. It is aimed at senior groups and individuals with various health conditions such as cancer, respiratory problems, diabetes, hypertension, and heart-related issues. The World Health Organization (WHO) has formally declared COVID-19 as an international emergency case. As a result, Kuala Lumpur was the most affected state in Malaysia as of 12 July 2020, followed by Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, and Johor. Regardless of the infection chain ratio, the favorable cases in each affected state of Malaysia are rising every day. The Malaysian Government attempted to split the infection chain ratio affected by COVID-19 via the lockdown definition. The research aims to use GIS software to analyze COVID-19's spatial trend distribution and temporal pattern analysis for human health. Geographic information systems (GIS) technologies have played a significant role in spatial information, spatial tracking of confirmed cases, active case, death, and discharge cases, and predicting the magnitude of the spread. Monitoring, evaluating, and planning using geospatial analysis are essential for controlling the spread of COVID-19 within the country.

scholarly journals Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ghana

2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-73
Author(s):  
Ernest Kenu ◽  
Joseph Frimpong ◽  
Kwadwo Koram
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Distress ◽  
Distress Syndrome ◽  
Rna Virus ◽  
Respiratory Illness ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
Infected Person ◽  
Wuhan City ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

On 12 January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that a novel coronavirus was the cause of a respiratory illness in a cluster of people in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. The disease was christened COVID-19 and the pathogen (an RNA virus) identified as SARS-Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2).1,2 The virus is primarily spread through contact with small droplets produced from coughing, sneezing, or talking by an infected person. While a substantial proportion of infected individuals may remain asymptomatic, the most common symptoms in clinical cases include, fever, cough, acute respiratory distress, fatigue, and failure to resolve over 3 to 5 days of antibiotic treatment. Complications may include pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome.3 Over five million confirmed cases of COVID-19 has been recorded globally with more than 300,000 deaths as at 25th May 2020. The United States of America has recorded the highest number of cases with more than 1.5 million and over 100,000 deaths.4 In Africa, more than 90,0000 cases have been reported with about 3,000 deaths. South Africa has recorded the highest number of cases with 23,615 cases and 481 deaths. Ghana confirmed its first cases of COVID-19 on 12th March 2020 and had as at 25 May 2020 recorded over 7,000 cases with 34 deaths.5  

scholarly journals The COVID-19 pandemic: a global health crisis

2020 ◽  
Vol 52 (11) ◽  
pp. 549-557
Author(s):  
Casey A. Pollard ◽  
Michael P. Morran ◽  
Andrea L. Nestor-Kalinoski
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Fibrosis ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
The United States ◽  
Viral Envelope ◽  
Lung Epithelial Cells ◽  
World Health ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 was identified as the causative agent for a series of atypical respiratory diseases in the Hubei Province of Wuhan, China in December of 2019. The disease SARS-CoV-2, termed COVID-19, was officially declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. SARS-CoV-2 contains a single-stranded, positive-sense RNA genome surrounded by an extracellular membrane containing a series of spike glycoproteins resembling a crown. COVID-19 infection results in diverse symptoms and morbidity depending on individual genetics, ethnicity, age, and geographic location. In severe cases, COVID-19 pathophysiology includes destruction of lung epithelial cells, thrombosis, hypercoagulation, and vascular leak leading to sepsis. These events lead to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and subsequent pulmonary fibrosis in patients. COVID-19 risk factors include cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes, which are highly prevalent in the United States. This population has upregulation of the angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor, which is exploited by COVID-19 as the route of entry and infection. Viral envelope proteins bind to and degrade ACE2 receptors, thus preventing normal ACE2 function. COVID-19 infection causes imbalances in ACE2 and induces an inflammatory immune response, known as a cytokine storm, both of which amplify comorbidities within the host. Herein, we discuss the genetics, pathogenesis, and possible therapeutics of COVID-19 infection along with secondary complications associated with disease progression, including ARDS and pulmonary fibrosis. Understanding the mechanisms of COVID-19 infection will allow the development of vaccines or other novel therapeutic approaches to prevent transmission or reduce the severity of infection.

scholarly journals Is Hydroxychloroquine Safe During Pregnancy? Observations from Penn Medicine

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lena Davidson ◽  
Silvia P. Canelón ◽  
Mary Regina Boland
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
United States Of America ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

A novel strain of coronavirus appeared in December 2019. Over the next few months, this novel coronavirus spread throughout the world, being declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. As of this writing (March 28, 2020) over one hundred thousand individuals in the United States of America were confirmed cases. One way of treating the associated disease, COVID-19, is to reuse existing FDA-approved medications. One medication that has shown promise is hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). However, the utility and safety of HCQ among pregnant COVID-19 patients remains a concern.

scholarly journals Challenges in Pandemic Disaster Preparedness: Experience of a Saudi Academic Medical Center

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-5
Author(s):  
Wajdan AlAssaf
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Disaster Preparedness ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Academic Medical Center ◽  
Disaster Planning ◽  
World Health ◽  
Unknown Etiology ◽  
Academic Hospital ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Health Organization

ABSTRACT In December 2019, a pneumonia of unknown etiology was detected in Wuhan, China. This outbreak was then declared an international public emergency in January 2020 by the World Health Organization (WHO), and the announcement activated disaster management plans worldwide. This global crisis created several challenges for the health-care sector. This study reviews the challenges faced by a middle-sized urban academic hospital that are likely present to some extent in all health-care sectors, regardless of their existing disaster plans and policies. While preparing this Saudi academic hospital with a capacity of 192 beds for the emerging pandemic, obstacles arose despite its extensive prior disaster planning and training. Specifically, these challenges were related to health-care workers, supplies, and patient care. We review the actions taken to overcome and resolve these difficulties and provide future planning suggestions for each area to potentially assist other hospitals in their disaster planning and preparedness.

scholarly journals The Use of Cangrelor in the Treatment of a Patient with COVID-19-Associated Acute Coronary Syndrome

2021 ◽  
pp. 92-95
Author(s):  
S. V. Salo ◽  
O. V. Levchyshyna ◽  
A. Yu. Gavrylyshyn ◽  
A. K. Logutov ◽  
A. Yu. Hladun
Keyword(s):  
Acute Coronary Syndrome ◽  
Clinical Manifestations ◽  
The United States ◽  
P2y12 Receptor ◽  
World Health ◽  
Interventional Treatment ◽  
Coronary Syndrome ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

In December 2019, an outbreak of pneumonia caused by a novel coronavirus occurred in Wuhan, Hubei province, spreading rapidly first throughout China and subsequently across Europe, the United States (US), and the rest of the world. On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a public health emergency of international concern, and on March 12, 2020, it was characterized as a pandemic. Patients exposed to this virus named as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) frequently present with fever, cough, and shortness of breath within 2 to 14 days after exposure, and then usually develop coronavirus disease (COVID-19)-related pneumonia. Although respiratory symptoms prevail among all clinical manifestations of COVID-19, preliminary studies showed that some patients may develop severe cardiovascular (CV) damage. To date, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused significant changes in the prevalence and pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases among the population in Ukraine and other countries and has led to a significant increase in mortality in this category of patients. These changes necessitated adjustment of drug treatment in patients with concomitant COVID-19. Conclusions. COVID-19 is a global pandemic with unpredictable consequences due to mutually reinforcing damage to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Treatment of acute coronary syndrome on the background of COVID-19 requires a systematic approach involving physicians of various specialties as well as compliance with anti-epidemic mea- sures. Interventional treatment is quite effective in treating patients with COVID-associated acute coronary syndrome. COVID-19 patients on mechanical ventilation should use intravenous P2Y12 receptor blockers or drugs that can be crushed and administered through a nasogastric tube. Cangrelor, an intravenous P2Y12 receptor blocker with fast action and high controllability, enabled to achieve the optimal result of the intervention.

scholarly journals Identification and analysis of ongoing registered clinical intervention trials on COVID-19

Medwave ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (09) ◽  
pp. e8051-e8051
Author(s):  
Luis Armando Solano-Sandí ◽  
Mónica Cambronero-Valverde ◽  
Guadalupe Herrera-Watson
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
World Health Organization ◽  
Intervention Studies ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Clinical Intervention ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization

Introduction The World Health Organization declared the disease caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), a pandemic on March 11, 2020. Several studies have been proposed and started since then, mainly covering prevention, diagnosis, management, and treatment. Objective To identify and categorize all intervention studies up to the end of May related to SARS-CoV-2 infection, according to population and geo-graphical location (emphasis in Latin America) and to verify if there is any correlation according to purpose, phase, and recruitment status. Methods One thousand six hundred seventy-two trials were selected from 1705 until May 24 on the World Health Organization clinical trials platform related to COVID-19. Jupyter and Python tools were used for data processing and cleaning. Results One thousand six hundred seventy-two intervention studies related to SARS-CoV-2 infection were found. China, The United States, Iran, France, and Spain are the countries participating in the largest number of studies, while only 4,1% are from Latin America (mostly Brazilian). 28 studies are focusing only on older adults, and ten studies are based exclusively on populations under 19 years of age. Conclusion The worldwide interest in this new disease is reflected in the increasing number of intervention studies that are being carried out to date. How-ever, the studies analyzed do not cover the most vulnerable age groups proportionally and do not have equitable participation of all the coun-tries. In Latin America, this problem is exacerbated by the region's social, economic, and political limitations. Because it is an emerging disease, there is still not enough information to establish strong correlations between the analyzed variables, and the standardization of protocols is not yet definite because most of the studies are in progress.

scholarly journals Potential Immunotherapy against SARS-CoV-2: Strategy and Status

Coronaviruses ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-31
Author(s):  
Abid H. Banday ◽  
Shameem A. Shah ◽  
Sheikh J. Ajaz
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Status ◽  
The United States ◽  
World Health ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Governmental Organizations ◽  
The World ◽  
Novel Coronavirus ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Approved Drugs ◽  
Almost All

SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that was first reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019, has engrossed the world with immense distress. It has shattered the global healthcare system and has inflicted so much pain on humanity. COVID-19, the disease caused by a microscopic enemy, has now spread to almost all the countries in the world affecting millions of people and causing enormous casualties. World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic on March 11, 2019. As of June 15, 2020, almost 7.70 million people have already been infected globally with 428,000 reported casualties. In the United States alone, 2.14 million people have been infected and 117,000 people have succumbed to this pandemic. A multipronged approach has been launched towards combating this pandemic with the main focus on exhaustive screening, developing efficacious therapies, and vaccines for long-term immunity. Several pharmaceutical companies in collaboration with various academic institutions and governmental organizations have started investigating new therapeutics and repurposing approved drugs so as to find fast and affordable treatments against this disease. The present communication aims at highlighting the efforts that are currently underway to treat or prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection through immunotherapy. Emphasis has been laid on discussing the approaches and platforms that are being utilized for the speedy development of therapeutic antibodies and preventive vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. The manuscript also presents a detailed discussion regarding strategy, clinical status, and timeline for the development of safe and enduring immunotherapy against SARS-CoV-2. All the details pertaining to the clinical status of each candidate have been last updated on June 15, 2020.

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