Articles: pandemics.
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Arch Ital Urol Androl · Apr 2020
Hospital care in Departments defined as COVID-free: A proposal for a safe hospitalization protecting healthcare professionals and patients not affected by COVID-19.
The COVID-19 pandemic influenced the normal course of clinical practice leading to significant delays in the delivery of healthcare services for patients non affected by COVID-19. In the near future, it will be crucial to identify facilities capable of providing health care in compliance with the safety of healthcare professionals, administrative staff and patients. All the staff involved in the project of a Covid-free hospital should be subjected to a diagnostic swab for COVID-19 before the beginning of healthcare activity and then periodically in order to avoid the risk of contamination of patients during the process of care. ⋯ The surgical team should be restricted and monitored with periodic swabs; surgical procedures should be performed by experienced surgeons according to standard procedures; surgical training experimental treatments and research protocols should be suspended. Adequate personal protective equipment and measures to reduce aerosolization in the operating room (closed circuits, continuous cycle insufflators, fume extraction) should be adopted. Prevention of possible transmission of the virus during procedures in open, laparoscopic and endoscopic surgery is to use a multi-tactic approach, which includes correct filtration and ventilation of the operating room, the use of appropriate PPE (FFP3 plus surgical mask and protective visor for all the staff working in the operating room) and smoke evacuation devices with a suction and filter system. on behalf of the UrOP Executive Committee Giuseppe Ludovico, Angelo Cafarelli, Ottavio De Cobelli, Ferdinando De Marco, Giovanni Ferrari, Stefano Pecoraro, Angelo Porreca, Domenico Tuzzolo.
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The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic introduced challenges to the use of simulation, including limited personal protective equipment and restricted time and personnel. Our use of video for in situ simulation aimed to circumvent these challenges and assist in the development of a protocol for protected intubation and simultaneously educate emergency department (ED) staff. ⋯ We followed this with in situ run-throughs in which staff walked through the steps of the simulation in the ED, handling medications and equipment and becoming comfortable with use of isolation rooms. This application of in situ simulation allowed one simulation event to reach a wide audience, while allowing participants to respect social distancing, and resulted in the education of this audience and successful crowdsourcing for a protocol amidst a pandemic.
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Practice Guideline
Echocardiography during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic: expert opinion of the Working Group on Echocardiography of the Polish Cardiac Society.
Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography may be required in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‑19), resulting in direct contact with the patient and risk of transmitting the infection from patients to medical personnel. Therefore, we recommend to perform problem‑oriented time‑limited transthoracic examinations. ⋯ Transesophageal echocardiography is considered an aerosol‑generating procedure and should be performed only as a lifesaving procedure. Personnel should use appropriate personal protection equipment in the immediate vicinity of the patients in accordance with the relevant guidelines.
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JMIR Public Health Surveill · Apr 2020
Regulation and Trust: 3-Month Follow-up Study on COVID-19 Mortality in 25 European Countries.
The outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has dramatically changed societies in 2020. Since the end of February, Europe has been hit particularly hard by COVID-19, but there are major country differences in both the spread of the virus and measures taken to stop the virus. Social psychological factors such as institutional trust could be important in understanding the development of the epidemic. ⋯ The analyses demonstrated the importance of societal and social psychological factors in the spread of the COVID-19 epidemic. By considering multiple perspectives, this study showed that country differences in Europe are major, and this will have an impact on how countries will cope with the ongoing crisis in the following months. The results indicated the importance of timely restrictions and cooperation with people.