Articles: coronavirus.
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Case Reports
Guillain-Barre syndrome and pulmonary embolism in an adult female with COVID-19 infection in Ghana: A case report.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic began at the end of 2019 in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province, China. This novel coronavirus is classified as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Neurological manifestations are commonly associated with moderate to severe COVID-19 infection. Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is a rare immune-mediated postinfectious neuropathy but there has been an increase in the number of cases of GBS associated with COVID-19, supporting the present body of global evidence of the notable association between the 2 conditions. We present the first proven case of GBS and pulmonary embolism associated with COVID-19 infection in Ghana, West Africa. ⋯ This case report adds to the body of evidence of the association between GBS and SARS-CoV-2 infection, particularly from West Africa. It further highlights the need to anticipate potential neurological complications of SARS-CoV-2, particularly GBS even in mild respiratory symptoms for prompt diagnosis and initiation of appropriate therapy to improve outcomes and avert long-term deficits.
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The response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in New York City (NYC) included unprecedented support from the DoD-a response limited primarily to medical and public health response on domestic soil with intact infrastructure. This study seeks to identify the common perspectives, experiences, and challenges of DoD personnel participating in this historic response. ⋯ This study provides unique insight into the DoD's initial response to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in NYC. Using this experiential feedback from the DoD's pandemic responders could aid planners in improving the rapidity, effectiveness, and safety of military and civilian health care system integrations that may arise in the future.
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Emergency departments (EDs) have continued to struggle with overcrowding, causing delays in patient care and increasing stress on the medical staff and resources. This was further illustrated during the recent coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, where we saw large unpredictable surges to the ED as hospitals tried to meet the medical needs of patients while trying to minimize the spread of coronavirus disease. A previous study from the Department of Emergency at the Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) found that nearly half of the patients presenting to the ED could have been managed in a primary care setting. We sought to pilot an alternate appointment scheduling system, Acute Care Clinic Easy Scheduling System, to allow patients to see and book available appointments while waiting in the ED waiting room. ⋯ Expansion of the Acute Care Clinic Easy Scheduling System within the Military Health Care System may (1) help reduce ED crowding, (2) improve access to care through a live-tracking system that patients can review and select from, and (3) reduce the number of unfilled primary care appointments. The system in place in the BAMC ED serves as a template for other MTFs to use.
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Following the identification of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in China, the virus has spread rapidly around the world causing severe illness and death. Several vaccines were found to be safe and effective and made available first to those most at risk and then to the general public. Despite the safety and efficacy profiles, vaccine hesitancy remains a significant barrier to widespread immunity. Within the military community at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, we provided multiple physician-led educational seminars to address vaccination concerns and decrease vaccine hesitancy. ⋯ Our intervention was limited in its effectiveness to address vaccine hesitancy late in the pandemic, with our study limited by our small sample size. Regardless, it identified a peculiar discrepancy with those with the most trust in health care providers being the most likely to be vaccine-hesitant. This highlights the importance of the information that trusted health care providers are providing to their patients and may identify more effective routes to address vaccine hesitancy in the future.
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J. Korean Med. Sci. · May 2023
Effectiveness of Heterologous COVID-19 Vaccine Booster in Korean Elderly Population, 2022.
We conducted a cohort study to assess vaccine effectiveness (VE) of coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine combinations on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 critical infection and death among elderly population in Korea. From January to August 2022, VE against death for 4 doses mRNA recipients was 96.1%, whereas 1-dose viral vector + 3-dose mRNA recipients had VE of 90.8%.