When a nephrology ward becomes a COVID-19 ward: the Cremona experience.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Malberti F
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7235973 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
When a nephrology ward becomes a COVID-19 ward: the Cremona experience.
Malberti Fabio F Pecchini Paola P Marchi Gianluca G Foramitti Marina M
Journal of nephrology 20200801 4
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Project description:BackgroundChronic kidney disease patients show a high mortality in cases of a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV‑2) infection. Thus, information on the sero-status of nephrology personnel might be crucial for patient protection; however, limited information exists about the presence of SARS-CoV‑2 antibodies in asymptomatic individuals.MethodsWe examined the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV‑2 IgG and IgM antibodies among healthcare workers of a tertiary care kidney center during the the first peak phase of the corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) crisis in Austria using an orthogonal test strategy and a total of 12 commercial nucleocapsid protein or spike glycoprotein-based assays as well as Western blotting and a neutralization assay.ResultsAt baseline 60 of 235 study participants (25.5%, 95% confidence interval, CI 20.4-31.5%) were judged to be borderline positive or positive for IgM or IgG using a high sensitivity/low specificity threshold in one test system. Follow-up analysis after about 2 weeks revealed IgG positivity in 12 (5.1%, 95% CI: 2.9-8.8%) and IgM positivity in 6 (2.6%, 95% CI: 1.1-5.6) in at least one assay. Of the healthcare workers 2.1% (95% CI: 0.8-5.0%) showed IgG nucleocapsid antibodies in at least 2 assays. By contrast, positive controls with proven COVID-19 showed antibody positivity among almost all test systems. Moreover, serum samples obtained from healthcare workers did not show SARS-CoV‑2 neutralizing capacity, in contrast to positive controls.ConclusionUsing a broad spectrum of antibody tests the present study revealed inconsistent results for SARS-CoV‑2 seroprevalence among asymptomatic individuals, while this was not the case among COVID-19 patients.Trial registration numberCONEC, ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT04347694.
| S-EPMC8034034 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) has caused a pandemic that has affected millions of people worldwide. COVID-19 is caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and is spread by close contact and by respiratory droplets. It has also impacted different aspects of caring for people with kidney disease, including those with acute kidney injury (AKI), chronic kidney disease (CKD), those requiring kidney replacement therapy (KRT), and those with a kidney transplant. All of these patients are considered high risk. The lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic will hopefully serve to protect patients with kidney disease in a similar situation in the future.
| S-EPMC7381936 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks occur in hospitals in many parts of the world. In hospital settings, the possibility of airborne transmission needs to be investigated thoroughly.Materials and methodsThere was a nosocomial outbreak of COVID-19 in a hematologic ward in a tertiary hospital, Seoul, Korea. We found 11 patients and guardians with COVID-19 through vigorous contact tracing and closed-circuit television monitoring. We found one patient who probably had acquired COVID-19 through airborne-transmission. We performed airflow investigation with simulation software, whole-genome sequencing of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).ResultsOf the nine individuals with COVID-19 who had been in the hematologic ward, six stayed in one multi-patient room (Room 36), and other three stayed in different rooms (Room 1, 34, 35). Guardian in room 35 was close contact to cases in room 36, and patient in room 34 used the shared bathroom for teeth brushing 40 minutes after index used. Airflow simulation revealed that air was spread from the bathroom to the adjacent room 1 while patient in room 1 did not used the shared bathroom. Airflow was associated with poor ventilation in shared bathroom due to dysfunctioning air-exhaust, grill on the door of shared bathroom and the unintended negative pressure of adjacent room.ConclusionTransmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the hematologic ward occurred rapidly in the multi-patient room and shared bathroom settings. In addition, there was a case of possible airborne transmission due to unexpected airflow.
| S-EPMC8258301 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The COVID-19 epidemic represents a special risk for kidney patients due to their comorbidities and advanced age, and the need for hemodialysis treatment in group rooms. It also represents a risk for professionals responsible for their attention. This manuscript contains a proposal for action to prevent infection of professionals in the Nephrology Services, one of the most valuable assets at the present time.
| S-EPMC7328640 | biostudies-literature
Project description:OBJECTIVES:The current study aims at assessing the effectiveness of the guidelines set up by our clinic for the protection of patients and staff which enabled us to proceed with urgent and oncological surgery after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. MATERIAL AND METHODS:Our ENT department devised specific equipment to be worn by the staff for personal protection when dealing with Covid-19 patients both in aerosol generating and non-generating procedures. Moreover, restrictive measures were enforced both for the outpatient department and for the ward where only urgent practices were carried out and visitors were not allowed, while non-urgent elective surgery was postponed. A codified scheme was followed to perform tracheostomy procedure in Covid-19 positive testing patients on the part of 3 specific teams of 2 surgeons each, while the resident educational program was reorganized to limit the spread of the infection. RESULTS:In about a couple of months (from March 8th to May 3rd) a relevant amount of medical tests and surgical procedures were carried out on non COVID-19 patients and a certain number of tracheostomies were performed on COVID-19 patients. Consequently, all the ENT personnel were checked and found negative. Also, all the patients in the ward were swab tested and chest X-rayed, only one had a positive outcome and was adequately handled and treated. CONCLUSION:Our ENT guidelines regarding personal protection equipment and multiple simultaneous diagnostic procedures have proved to be an essential instrument for the management of patients with both known and unknown COVID-19 status.
| S-EPMC7425677 | biostudies-literature
Project description: Not available
| S-BSST563 | biostudies-other
Project description:Despite thromboprophylaxis, patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) exhibit hypercoagulability and higher venous thromboembolic risk, although its real incidence is still unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in patients with COVID-19 admitted to both intensive care units (ICUs) and medical wards (MWs). Consecutive patients admitted for COVID-19 to the MW and the ICU at Padua University Hospital, all receiving thromboprophylaxis, underwent systematic ultrasonography of the internal jugular, and the upper and lower limbs veins every 7 days (± 1 day) after the admission; and, if negative, once-weekly until discharge or death. In case of suspected pulmonary embolism, a multidetector computed tomographic angiography was performed. The primary outcome was the proportion of any deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) and symptomatic pulmonary embolism in both groups. An extended blood coagulative test was performed as well. From March 4 to April 30, 2020, a total of 85 patients were investigated, 44 (52%) in MWs and 41 (48%) in the ICU. Despite thromboprophylaxis, VTE occurred in 12 patients in the MWs (27.3%) and 31 patients in the ICU (75.6%) with an odds ratio of 9.3 (95% confidence interval (CI) 3.5-24.5; P < 0.001). Multiple-site DVT occurred in 55.6% of patients (95% CI 39.6-70.5). Increased D-dimer levels significantly correlated with VTE (P = 0.001) and death (P = 0.015). Summarizing, patients with COVID-19 admitted to the MW or ICU showed a high frequency of venous thromboembolism, despite standard-dose or high-dose thromboprophylaxis. Whether thrombosis, particularly asymptomatic events, may play a role in the morbidity and mortality of patients with COVID-19 remain to be clarified.
| S-EPMC7567296 | biostudies-literature
Project description: Not available
| S-EPMC8563350 | biostudies-literature
Project description:'The Mask' has become a byword and a precious possession universally. Except for its use by the medical fraternity, answers to the common questions-whether it provides enough protection, which type is optimal for the general public and who really needs to don it, remain poorly understood. For a frontline healthcare worker, wearing mask is a necessity as an important person protection equipment, it is perhaps the most-powerful psychological symbol for the general public. Surprisingly, it even undermines all other recommended practices of infection control and breaking the transmission chain of Covid-19, like hand washing, personal hygiene and social distancing. 'The mask' has evolved with time and yet there is a need to further improve the design for safety, tolerability and comfort. In this review we present the journey of face mask, originating from the first masks aimed at stopping the bad smell to its industrial use to its all-important place in the medical field. Various types of face masks, their filtration efficiency, reusability and current recommendations for their use are presented.
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Project description: Not available
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