scholarly journals Sterilization of gowns: making the most of a scarce commodity during the COVID-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 112-113
Author(s):  
G. Mtetwa ◽  
F. Anabwani-Richter ◽  
N. Dlamini ◽  
Q. Dlamini ◽  
T. Devezin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Staff Training ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Medical Doctors ◽  
Protective Measures ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Infection Control And Prevention

Baylor Clinic in Mbabane, Eswatini, convened a crisis meeting to tackle critical shortages of long-sleeved disposable gowns that resulted from COVID-19 pandemic constraints on available personal protective equipment (PPE). A strategy deemed safe, affordable and sustainable was adopted to autoclave and re-use gowns based on a risk-stratified approach. Key objectives were to ensure essential infection control and prevention (ICP) for medical doctors, nurses, and laboratory teams. Administrative, environmental and personal protective measures for ICP were enhanced through regular staff training. This strategy for gown re-use has been invaluable in motivating responsible stewardship and maximization of available gowns during the COVID-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals 494. COVID-19 Outbreak: A Tale of Two Psych Units

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S313-S314
Author(s):  
Marilou Corpuz ◽  
Ruchika Jain ◽  
Gregory Weston ◽  
Priya Nori ◽  
Priya Nori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Early Period ◽  
Index Patient ◽  
Structural Aspect ◽  
Practice Change ◽  
Mitigation Strategies ◽  
Inpatient Psychiatry ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Infection Control And Prevention

Abstract Background COVID infections in inpatient psychiatry units present unique challenges during the pandemic, including behavioral characteristics of the patients, structural aspect of the unit, type of therapy for the patients. We present COVID outbreaks in psychiatry units in two hospitals in our medical center in Bronx, NY, and describe our mitigation strategies. Methods Hosp A: In the early period of the pandemic in NY, 2 patients in the inpatient psychiatry unit tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 PCR. The unit was temporarily closed to new admissions. Hosp B: On 4/1, one of the patients in a 22 bed Psych unit, admitted since 3/10/20, developed fever, cough and tested positive for COVID-19 PCR. Two of her close contacts tested positive for SARS-COV-2 PCR. Results Hospital A: In total, 5 of the 29 patients (17.2%) in the unit were SARS-CoV-2 positive, all of whom were asymptomatic. Hospital B: Testing of the remaining patients showed positive PCR in 10/14. PCR tests of healthcare workers (HCW) were positive in 13/46. Except for the index patient, all the patients were asymptomatic but 32/46 HCW reported symptoms. One negative patient subsequently turned positive. Infection control and prevention strategies instituted in both hospitals were the same with subtle differences due to dissimilar burden of infection and structure of the units. Table 1 shows the timing of the outbreak and the rapid institution of preventive measures in each of the hospitals. There was still difficulty with patients regarding adherence. Some of the patients refused to stay in isolation and would roam. Compliance with masking and hand hygiene was problematic. Communication was of paramount importance. Multiple meetings were held between the Psychiatry staff, Infection Control and Prevention team, executive leadership of the hospital. Environmental Services and Engineering were also involved. Communications with the NY State Department of Health occurred frequently. Conclusion Strategies for management of COVID-19 patients in inpatient psychiatric units depends on the density of infected patients in the hospital and in the community. The implementation of practice change may need to be rapidly adjusted depending on the situation and available resources. Contingency plans should be formulated early on. Disclosures Gregory Weston, MD MSCR, Allergan (Grant/Research Support)

scholarly journals Compliance with Standard Precautions and Its Relationship with Views on Infection Control and Prevention Policy among Healthcare Workers during COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 3420
Author(s):  
Eliza Lai-Yi Wong ◽  
Kin-Fai Ho ◽  
Dong Dong ◽  
Annie Wai-Ling Cheung ◽  
Peter Sen-Yung Yau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
High Risk Group ◽  
Infection Prevention And Control ◽  
Prevention Policy ◽  
Standard Precautions ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
And Control ◽  
Infection Control And Prevention

Background: Standard precautions prevent the spread of infections in healthcare settings. Incompliance with infection control guidelines of healthcare workers (HCWs) may increase their risk of exposure to infectious disease, especially under pandemics. The purpose of this study was to assess the level of compliance with the infection prevention and control practices among HCWs in different healthcare settings and its relationship with their views on workplace infection control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Nurses in Hong Kong were invited to respond to a cross-sectional online survey, in which their views on workplace infection and prevention policy, compliance with standard precautions and self-reported health during pandemics were collected. Results: The respondents were dissatisfied with workplace infection and prevention policy in terms of comprehensiveness (62%), clarity (64%), timeliness (63%), and transparency (60%). For the protective behavior, the respondents did not fully comply with the standard precautions when they were involved in medical care. Their compliance was relatively low when having proper patient handling (54%) and performing invasive procedures (46%). A multivariate analysis model proved that the level of compliance of the standard precautions was positively associated with the satisfaction on infection control and prevention policy among high risk group (0.020; 95% CI: 0.005–0.036), while older respondents had higher level of compliance among the inpatient and outpatient groups (coefficient range: 0.065–0.076). The higher level of compliance was also significantly associated with working in designated team and having chronic condition of the respondents among high-risk and inpatient groups. Conclusions: Standard precautions are the most important elements to reduce cross-transmission among HCWs and patients while the satisfaction on infection control and prevention policy would increase the compliance among the high-risk group. An overall suboptimal compliance and poor views on the infection prevention and control guidelines is a warning signal to healthcare system especially during pandemics.

scholarly journals Migrants’ Quarantine and COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy: a Medico-anthropological View

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Di Meo ◽  
Enrico Bentivegna
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factor ◽  
Global Health ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Social Inequalities ◽  
Patient Relationship ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
Cultural Aspects ◽  
Health Response ◽  
Control And Prevention ◽  
Infection Control And Prevention

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic represents an important risk factor for migrants’ health. Paul Farmer highlighted the risk of global health response in emergency conditions exacerbating global and social inequalities. We argue that this is the case for quarantine ships and migrants’ management during the pandemic. Every aspect of infection-control and prevention measures acquires detention characteristics in these situations. With emphasis to the evolution of the doctor-patient relationship and to the anthropological and cultural aspects that were established during the pandemic, this article aims to provide an integrated view where physicians and anthropologists collaborate to deepen the understanding of the topic.

scholarly journals 478. Psychological Distress among Infectious Disease Physicians during the Response to the COVID-19 Outbreak in the Republic of Korea

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S305-S305
Author(s):  
Se Yoon Park ◽  
Bongyoung Kim ◽  
Dong Sik Jung ◽  
Sook In Jung ◽  
Won Sup Oh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Infectious Disease ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Text Message ◽  
Disease Outbreaks ◽  
Maslach Burnout Inventory ◽  
Republic Of Korea ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
The Republic

Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate psychological distress among infectious disease (ID) physicians during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in the Republic of Korea. Methods Using an online-based survey link sent via text message and email, we conducted a survey from April 21 to 25, 2020, targeting all ID physicians currently working in ID (n = 265). The questionnaire was based on the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey and the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scales, and information was collected on factors protecting against psychological distress and difficulties in relation to COVID-19. Results Of 265 ID physicians, 115 (43.3%) responded, showing burnout (97, 90.4%), depression (20, 17.4%), anxiety (23, 20.0%), and stress (5, 4.3%). There were no differences in terms of distress between ID physicians who were directly involved in the care of patients with COVID-19 or not (Table 1). Greater than 50% of physicians valued their work and felt recognized by others, whereas < 10% indicated that sufficient human and financial support and private time had been provided during the outbreak. The most challenging issues concerned a lack of human resources for COVID-19 treatment or infection control, a shortage of personal protective equipment or airborne infection isolation rooms, pressure for research, and lack of guidelines for COVID-19 management (Figure 1). Table 1. Figure 1. Difficulties in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. Abbreviations: COVID-19, coronavirus disease 19; HCWs, healthcare workers; ICPs, infection control practitioners; IRB, Institutional Review Board; PPE, personal protective equipment Conclusion During the COVID-19 outbreak in the ROK, most respondents reported psychological distress. Preparing strategies for infectious disease outbreaks that support ID physicians is essential. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

COVID-19 in schools: Infection control, personal protective equipment and the latest CPR advice

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 129-132
Author(s):  
Emma Hammett
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Educational Settings

There are a number of challenges in order to safely return more children to school. Emma Hammett provides an overview of the latest guidance on infection control, personal protective equipment and CPR for educational settings.

scholarly journals Retrospective Study on Personal Protective Equipment During Pandemic Link to Outbreak of Carbpenem-Resistant Enterobacteriace

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
pp. s9-s10
Author(s):  
Kenisha Evans ◽  
Jennifer LeRose ◽  
Angela Beatriz Cruz ◽  
Lavina Jabbo ◽  
Teena Chopra
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Horizontal Transmission ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
The Impact

Background: In 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), had cost the lives of >35,000 patients, particularly the most virulent plasmid-mediated New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM). Although healthcare systems normally have strict surveillance and infection control measures for CRE, the rapid emergence of novel SAR-CoV-2 and COVID-19 led to a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies. As a result, routine infection practices, such as contact precautions, were violated. Studies have shown this depletion and shift in resources compromised the control of infections such CRE leading to rising horizontal transmission. Method: A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary healthcare system in Detroit, Michigan, to determine the impact of PPE shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic on NDM infection rates. The following periods were established during 2020 based on PPE availability: (1) pre-PPE shortage (January–June), (2) PPE shortage (July–October), and (3) post-PPE shortage (November–December). Rates of NDM per 10,000 patient days were compared between periods using the Wilcoxon signed rank-sum test. Isolates were confirmed resistant by NDM by molecular typing performed by the Michigan State Health Department. Patient characteristics were gathered by medical chart review and patient interviews by telephone. Results: Overall, the average rate of NDM infections was 1.82 ±1.5 per 10,000 patient days. Rates during the PPE shortage were significantly higher, averaging 3.6 ±1.1 cases per 10,000 patient days (P = .02). During this time, several infections occurred within patients on the same unit and/or patients with same treating team, suggesting possible horizontal transmission. Once PPE stock was replenished and isolation practices were reinstated, NDM infection rates decreased to 0.77 ±1.1 per 10,000 patient days. Conclusion: Control of CRE requires strategic planning with active surveillance, antimicrobial constructs, and infection control measures. The study illustrates that in times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the burden of effective infection control requires much more multidisciplinary efforts to prevent unintentional lapses in patient safety. A swift response by the state and local health departments at a tertiary-care healthcare center conveyed a positive mitigation of the highest clinical threats and decreased horizontal transmission of disease.Funding: NoDisclosures: None

scholarly journals A mask-based infection control method for screening endoscopy may prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission and relieve staff anxiety

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. 205031212110470
Author(s):  
Yuji Nadatani ◽  
Akira Higashimori ◽  
Shingo Takashima ◽  
Hirotsugu Maruyama ◽  
Koji Otani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High Risk ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Medical Staff ◽  
Fluorescent Dyes ◽  
Control Method ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Health Checkup ◽  
Screening Endoscopy ◽  
Droplet Trajectory

Objectives: Endoscopy confers high risk for acquiring coronavirus disease 2019. Although guidelines recommend that medical staff use personal protective equipment, no infection control equipment have been established for patients. This study aimed to clarify the usefulness of two face masks we had designed for transnasal and transoral endoscopy. Methods: The efficacy of the masks was evaluated by simulating coughing in a mannequin with fluorescent dyes and mapping the droplet trajectory and number. The number of aerosols generated during endoscopy was clinically evaluated in the endoscopy room. Overall, 4356 screening endoscopies were performed with the patients wearing our masks at Medcity21, a health checkup facility, between June and December 2020; the effects of the masks on the patient’s condition were evaluated retrospectively. An 11-item paper-based survey was performed by the endoscopy staff 6 months after the adoption of the mask-based infection control method. Results: Use of both masks reduced the number of droplets released during the simulation. Clinically, the use of both masks did not affect the patients’ conditions during endoscopy and prevented an increase in the aerosols in the endoscopy room. This mask-based infection control method was favorably received, and all staff indicated that understanding the efficacy of our mask-based infection control reduced their anxiety regarding infection. Until December 2020, none of our staff had contracted SARS-CoV-2. Conclusion: Our mask-based infection control method is easy to adopt, inexpensive, and effective; understanding its effectiveness may help ease the fear of infection among endoscopy staff.

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