Infection & chemotherapy
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Infection & chemotherapy · Sep 2020
ReviewConvalescent Plasma Therapy for Coronavirus Disease 2019.
Convalescent plasma has been used for decades to prevent and treat a wide range of infectious diseases for which no specific treatment is available. The use of convalescent plasma involves transfusing plasma collected from patients who have recovered from a viral illness, in an attempt to transfer virus-neutralizing antibodies and confer passive immunity. In addition to the antiviral mechanisms of neutralizing antibodies, the immunomodulatory effects of plasma components could have benefits. ⋯ With historical precedents and recent clinical studies, convalescent plasma therapy should be considered as a candidate therapy for COVID-19 given the limited effectiveness of antiviral drugs and lack of a vaccine. A system to secure safe collection and use of convalescent plasma should be developed as a response to the pandemic. Further clinical trials should be conducted to determine the safety and efficacy of convalescent plasma therapy concurrently with its clinical use.
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Infection & chemotherapy · Aug 2020
Case ReportsDetection of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 in the Pleural Fluid.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can be detected via a nasopharyngeal swab and in sputum, blood, urine, and feces. However, there is only limited data on the real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) results of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients with pleural fluid. We report a case of COVID-19 with SARS-CoV-2 detected in both sputum and pleural fluid. ⋯ During his hospital stay, the patient was confirmed as COVID-19 positive. We identified the presence of SARS-CoV-2 through real-time RT-PCR assay from the pleural fluid. Although pleural effusion is an uncommon finding in the COVID-19, care should be taken to avoid exposure when handling the pleural fluid sample.
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Infection & chemotherapy · Jun 2020
ReviewPersonal Protective Equipment for Healthcare Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has posed a challenge for healthcare systems, and healthcare workers (HCWs) are at high risk of exposure. Protecting HCWs is of paramount importance to maintain continuous patient care and keep healthcare systems functioning. Used alongside administrative and engineering control measures, personal protective equipment (PPE) is the last line of defense and the core component of protection. ⋯ The level of protection provided by PPE differs based on standards and test methods. Thus, understanding them is the key in selecting the proper PPE. This article reviews evidence on the mode of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, compares the current PPE recommendations of the World Health Organization with those in Korea, and discusses standard requirements and the proper selection of PPE.
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Infection & chemotherapy · Jun 2020
ReviewImproving Preparedness for and Response to Coronavirus Disease 19 (COVID-19) in Long-Term Care Hospitals in Korea.
Clusters of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in long-term care facilities (LTCFs) have been widely reported in Korea and around the world. COVID-19 has a high mortality rate, and older patients and those with underlying diseases are at particularly high risk of being infected. Outbreaks in LTCFs, where many high-risk patients reside, result in the occupation of beds meant for severely ill patients and even death in many patients. ⋯ With these improvement, prevention, surveillance, and screening for COVID-19 should be done and a response system to the COVID-19 outbreak should be established. There are many challenges that must be overcome to meet the goals proposed in this article. This may be possible only with a spirit of solidarity and cooperation of government, public and private healthcare facilities.
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Infection & chemotherapy · Mar 2020
Differences in Vancomycin Clearance between Trauma and Medical Intensive Care Unit Patients.
To identify the differences in the vancomycin pharmacokinetics between multiple trauma patients and medically ill patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) stratified by the use of continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT), and the factors affecting vancomycin clearance (CLvan). ⋯ In the case of non-dialyzed patients in the TICU, vancomycin dosages must be adjusted, depending on the patient's actual body weight changes. In the case of patients undergoing CRRT in both ICUs, vancomycin can be infused with fixed doses regardless of the patients' characteristics.