Wiener klinische Wochenschrift
-
Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Apr 2021
COVID-19 lock-down significantly reduced number of surgical presentations in an emergency department.
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an acute virus infection, which was declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a pandemic. As a consequence, the Swiss government decreed a public lock-down to reduce and restrict further infections. The aim of this investigation was to provide the impact of the COVID-19 lock-down on the presentations of patients in an interdisciplinary emergency department (ED). ⋯ The socioeconomic lock-down was associated with reduced number of presentations in an ED. Mainly, surgical diseases and injuries were affected in terms of a reduction of presentations during the COVID-19 lock-down period.
-
Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Apr 2021
6-month SARS-CoV-2 antibody persistency in a Tyrolian COVID-19 cohort.
As coronavirus disease 2019 caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 evolved only recently, the persistency of the anti-viral antibody response remains to be determined. ⋯ There is a stable and persisting antibody response against acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 at 6 months after infection. Neutralizing antibodies confirm virus specificity. As the number of coronavirus disease 2019 convalescent cases is increasing sharply, antibody testing should be implemented to identify immunized individuals. This information can be helpful in various settings of professional and private life.
-
Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Apr 2021
Evaluating the longitudinal effectiveness of preventive measures against COVID-19 and seroprevalence of IgG antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 in cancer outpatients and healthcare workers.
It has been assumed that cancer patients, especially those undergoing chemotherapy, are at increased risk for infection and severe illness from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) compared to the general population. After the first alert message from the local healthcare service, a series of drastic measures were taken at our outpatient clinic to contain the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). ⋯ Our findings suggest that the majority of our patients and healthcare workers had not been infected with SARS-CoV‑2 and rapidly implemented measures were effective. Maintenance of preventive measures should be continued until vaccines or specific treatments are available.
-
Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Apr 2021
Covid-19 screening: are forehead temperature measurements during cold outdoor temperatures really helpful?
Body temperature control is a frequently used screening test for infectious diseases, such as Covid-19 (Sars-CoV-2). We used this procedure to test the body temperature of staff members in a hospital in Tyrol (Austria), where the Covid-19 disease occurred in March 2020. The hospital is located in a mountain area at 995 m above sea level with low outdoor temperatures during early spring season. Under these conditions, we analyzed whether forehead temperature control offers a sufficient screening tool for infectious diseases. ⋯ Our results indicate that forehead infrared temperature control is not an appropriate tool to screen for infectious disease directly at the entrance of a building, at least during early spring season with cold outdoor temperatures.
-
Wien. Klin. Wochenschr. · Apr 2021
Establishing a telerehabilitation program for patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy in the COVID-19 pandemic.
Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a genetic disease characterized by gradual loss of motor function, respiratory failure and cardiomyopathy. During the time of the global coronavirus pandemic, maintenance of social distancing and self-isolation might complicate regular multidisciplinary care of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy but on the other hand may lead to new medical care telehealth solutions. The aim of the study was to investigate patients' situation regarding rehabilitation in the pandemic, to establish an online rehabilitation program and motor assessment and to determine the needs of telerehabilitation in this group. ⋯ With the physiotherapist guidance (online communication or video) patients with caregivers' help can continue home based rehabilitation. Online videos/instructions/video guidelines are more acceptable by parents/caregivers of patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy than live workshops.