Abstract
Background: Research in the fields of musculoskeletal tissue engineering and regenerative medicine may suffer a slowdown during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic emergency. This is likely to harm the development of new therapeutic strategies and their translation into the clinic in the long term. Recently, the need to maintain continuity in research activities in those fields has assumed even greater importance due to the accumulation of data concerning the effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the musculoskeletal system. This study is aimed at the identification of a series of safe handling practices against COVID-19 diffusion to apply in a research environment, thus allowing the maintenance of research lab activities. Methods: The control measures to apply to mitigate the COVID-19 risk were identified and categorized utilizing the Hierarchy of Controls. We also compared our analysis with that assessed before the pandemic to consider the additional risk of COVID-19. Results: Results highlighted that the most relevant implemented measures to control SARS-CoV-2 were based on protecting people through engineering (e.g., ventilation and social distancing), and administrative (e.g., hand sanitization, work shifts) measures or Personnel Protective Equipment, rather than eliminating hazards at the source (e.g., smart working). Conclusions: Work continuity in research labs during the COVID-19 emergency should be guaranteed by ensuring the protection of researchers in the workplace and considering the physical environment, the type of operators and work activity, and the proven ability of workers to face biological risks. The increased knowledge and awareness on lab’ risks should be useful to prevent and mitigate future viral outbreaks.
Highlights
Accepted: 2 June 2021The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the new virus “SevereAcute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2” (SARS-CoV-2) [1,2], largely impacted on several therapeutic strategies including regenerative medicine and the engineering of muculoskeletal tissues [3,4]
It has been observed that a delay in treatment of lesions leading to the development of OA due to the COVID-19 pandemic could result in an increased number of patients who will need joint replacement in the long term [5]
We identified a series of safe handling practices against COVID-19 diffusion in a research lab located in a hospital environment, which was based on the current legislative framework, literature, and our own experience
Summary
Accepted: 2 June 2021The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic, caused by the new virus “SevereAcute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2” (SARS-CoV-2) [1,2], largely impacted on several therapeutic strategies including regenerative medicine and the engineering of muculoskeletal tissues (cartilage, bone, tendons, ligaments, synovia, muscles) [3,4]. The joint function may improve and pain may decrease. It has been observed that a delay in treatment of lesions leading to the development of OA due to the COVID-19 pandemic could result in an increased number of patients who will need joint replacement in the long term [5]. Added to this is the recent increase of data about the damaging effects of SARS-CoV-2 on the musculoskeletal system. Indirect effects refer to the prolonged patient inactivity due to hospitalization in intensive care units (ICU), imposed at-home lockdown, or remote
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