Articles: coronavirus.
-
Graefes Arch. Clin. Exp. Ophthalmol. · Jun 2021
No secret hiding place? Absence of SARS-CoV-2 on the ocular surface of 1145 hospitalized patients in a pandemic area.
The aims of this study were to evaluate the isolated prevalence of real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 on the ocular surface without systemic infection in hospitalized asymptomatic patients and to determine the risk for ophthalmologists and medical staff to be infected by prescreened asymptomatic patients in a tertiary eye care center. ⋯ The risk for an isolated conjunctival viral activity in patients with a negative nasopharyngeal swab-based RT-PCR seems to be absent or extremely low, suggesting no need to perform additional conjunctival swabs in patients with negative nasopharyngeal swabs. Furthermore, the risk of a work-related SARS-CoV-2 infection due to direct contact with preselected asymptomatic patients in an eye care center is very low, especially when additional hygiene standards and safe distances are respected carefully. This might reassure medical staff and reduce the fear of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
-
Objective: The use of angiotensin II in invasively ventilated patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is controversial. Its effect on organ function is unknown. Design: Prospective observational study. ⋯ Conclusions: In ventilated patients with COVID-19, angiotensin II therapy increased blood pressure and PaO2/FiO2 ratios, decreased the OR of liver dysfunction, and appeared to decrease the risk of RRT use in patients with abnormal baseline serum creatinine. However, all of these findings are hypothesis-generating only. Trial registration:ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04318366.
-
Diseases caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) have led to a pandemic in a very dynamic manner. The epidemiological situation of national importance required infection control measures with the aim of reducing morbidity and mortality. An overburdening of the healthcare system should be avoided. The measures taken to combat the pandemic have had an impact on public and private life. Patients suffering from chronic pain have also been greatly affected. ⋯ It is necessary to maintain the limited but still existing options of coordinated care for pain patients following a multimodal inpatient stay, even in difficult situations. The negative effects of a reduction in medical care are an argument in favor of multimodal outpatient care, especially after inpatient treatment.
-
Internal medicine journal · Jun 2021
Identifying patterns in unplanned hospital admissions during the COVID-19 pandemic: a single-centre retrospective study.
Countries with a high prevalence of COVID-19 have identified a reduction in crude hospital admission rates for non-COVID-19 conditions during the pandemic. There remains a paucity of such data from lower prevalence countries, including Australia. ⋯ Public health interventions have been effective in reducing domestic cases of COVID-19 in Australia. At our tertiary metropolitan hospital, we have observed a significant reduction in unplanned hospital admission rates during the COVID-19-era, particularly for falls. Public health messaging needs to focus on educating the public how to seek medical care safely and promptly in the context of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis.
-
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exerted a significant impact on health care workers. Recent studies have reported the detrimental effects of the pandemic on neurosurgery residents in North America, Asia, and Italy. However, the impact of the pandemic on neurosurgical training in Latin America and Spain has not yet been reported. In the present report, we describe effects of COVID-19 on training and working conditions of neurosurgery residents in these countries. ⋯ Our results offer a first glimpse of the changes imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic on neurosurgical work and training in Latin America and Spain, where health systems rely strongly on a resident workforce.