Risk Of Cross-infection Research Articles

Simple and Individual Chest Stands for Chest X-Ray May Decrease the Risk of Potential COVID-19 Cross-Infection in the Emergency Department-A Short-Term Observation Study.

Simple and Individual Chest Stands for Chest X-Ray May Decrease the Risk of Potential COVID-19 Cross-Infection in the Emergency Department-A Short-Term Observation Study.

UNIVERSAL PRECAUTION KNOWLEDGE LEVELS IN POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS FACULTY OF DENTISTRY

ABSTRACT Universal precautions are one way to prevent the transmission of disease, which is transmitted by blood and all body fluids, including saliva, either from the patient to health worker and from patient to another patient. Patients should be treated as infected with the disease and potentially infectious every time. This action should be done by all health care staff in the risk of cross-infection between patients, and health workers can be minimized. Basic universal precautions include immunization, hand washing, personal protective equipment, medical equipment management, and hospital waste management. This study aims to describe the level of knowledge about universal precautions in postgraduate students Faculty of Dentistry Universitas Jenderal Achmad Yani Cimahi (Unjani). This study used a descriptive design by cross-sectional. Collection data for research using a questionnaire containing 20 questions tested for validity and reliability, then a questionnaire filled out by respondents as many as 40 people. Presentation of research data is processed and presented to illustrate the level of knowledge in postgraduate students of frequency distribution table. The results showed that most of postgraduate students has a high knowledge (60%), postgraduate students with a moderate level of knowledge (27.5%), and postgraduate students with the knowledge that a low level (12.5%). Conclusions of the research showed that the majority postgraduate students about universal precaution is at a high level.

Optimizing Safe Dental Practice During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Recommendations Based on a Guide Developed for Dental Practices in China.

The current global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is still exerting severe global implications, and its development in various regions is complex and variable. The high risk of cross-infection poses a great challenge to the dental practice environment; it is therefore urgent to develop a set of pandemic prevention measures to ensure dental practice safety during the COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, we combined the epidemiological characteristics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), public emergency measures for COVID-19, characteristics of dental practice, and relevant literature reports to develop a set of dynamic practice measures for dental practices in high-, medium-, and low-risk areas affected by COVID-19. This will help dental practices to achieve standard prevention and ensure their safe and smooth operation during the pandemic. It is hoped that these measures will provide a reference basis for dental hospitals and dental clinics in their care and pandemic prevention work.

Pediatric Pulmonary Function Testing in COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond. A Position Statement From the Hellenic Pediatric Respiratory Society.

As the COVID-19 pandemic is still evolving, guidelines on pulmonary function testing that may dynamically adapt to sudden epidemiologic changes are required. This paper presents the recommendations of the Hellenic Pediatric Respiratory Society (HPRS) on pulmonary function testing in children and adolescents during the COVID-19 era. Following an extensive review of the relevant literature, we recommend that pulmonary function tests should be carried out after careful evaluation of the epidemiologic load, structured clinical screening of all candidates, and application of special protective measures to minimize the risk of viral cross infection. These principles have been integrated into a dynamic action plan that may readily adapt to the phase of the pandemic.

Remote management of dental problems in children during and post the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak: A teledentistry approach.

The recent pandemic outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has created a helpless situation in healthcare systems worldwide. The disease can be transmitted in different ways, e.g., through contact, droplets, fomites, and aerosol-generating procedures. Subsequently, the World Health Organization (WHO) released recommendations regarding precautions to be taken by all healthcare workers, including dentists, in order to avoid the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). COVID-19 indeed has become a pandemic, and there is a need for an innovative method to continue providing dental care to children with a minimal risk of cross-infection. The objective of this short communication was to draw special attention to the teledentistry model in pediatric dentistry and to guide the management of children with dental problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Teledentistry is a feasible method and its use can overcome challenges in the present situation. The teledentistry approach enables providing guidance, treatment plans and follow-up with remote-assistance dental care through the use of information technology instead of face-to-face contact with patients.

Saliva Exhibits High Sensitivity and Specificity for the Detection of SARS-COV-2.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is crucial to assess the application of a multitude of effective diagnostic specimens for conducting mass testing, for accurate diagnosis and to formulate strategies for its prevention and control. As one of the most versatile and amenable specimen options, saliva offers great advantages for widespread screening strategies due to its non-invasive properties, cost-effectiveness, excellent stability and minimal risk of cross-infection. This review attempts to outline the scientific rationale for detection of SARS-COV-2 in saliva specimens. By combining the data obtained from ten chosen published clinical studies, we calculated the pooled sensitivity and specificity using an online calculator. Through evidence, we established that SARS-COV-2 is detectable in saliva with a high degree of diagnostic sensitivity (87%) and specificity (98%). We also presented a review of emerging technologies approved by the FDA for detection of SARS-COV-2 in oral fluids (saliva and sputum) using polymerase chain reaction methods. Given the challenges involved in obtaining invasive specimens from the naso- and oropharynx, saliva can serve as an easy to collect diagnostic specimen for screening in the work environment, schools and for home testing. Furthermore, saliva offers the opportunity to screen early cases that can be missed by invasive sampling.

Dental practice closure during the first wave of COVID-19 and associated professional, practice and structural determinants: a multi-country survey

BackgroundThe coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) in China has influenced every aspect of life worldwide. Given the unique characteristics of the dental setting, the risk of cross-infection between dental practitioners and patients is high in the absence of adequate protective measures, and dentists may develop severe anxiety in relation to the current pandemic. The limited provision of services and widespread closure of dental practices have raised concerns among dental professionals about the financial impact. The present study assessed the frequency of dental practice closure during the pandemic’s first wave in several countries and whether closures and their associated factors differ between the private and non-private sectors.MethodsAn electronic cross-sectional survey questionnaire was sent to dentists in several countries, from April to May 2020. The survey assessed professional, practice related and country-level structural factors elucidating the reason for practice closure. Multilevel logistic regression was used to assess the association between practice closure and these factors, and differences were evaluated by sector type.ResultsDentists from 29 countries (n = 3243) participated in this study. Most of the participants (75.9%) reported practice closure with significantly higher percentage in the private sector than the non-private sector. Greater pandemic-related fears were associated with a significantly higher likelihood of practice closure in the private (odds ratio [OR] = 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24, 1.92) and non-private (OR = 1.38, 95% CI 1.04, 1.82) sectors. Dentists in non-private rural areas (OR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.42, 0.81), and those in hospitals (overall OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.36, 0.99) reported a low likelihood of closure. A high likelihood of closure was reported by dentists in the academia (OR = 2.13, 95% CI 1.23, 3.71). More hospital beds at the country-level were associated with a lower likelihood of closure in the non-private sector (OR = 0.65, 95% CI 0.46, 0.91). Private- sector dentists in high- income countries (HICs) reported fewer closures than those in non-HICs (OR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.15, 1.93).ConclusionsMost dentists reported practice closure because of COVID-19, and greater impacts were reported in the private sector than in the non-private sector. Closure was associated with professional, practice, and country-levels factors.

Container CT scanner: a solution for modular emergency radiology department during the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic period, container computed tomography (CT) scanners were developed and used for the first time in China to perform CT examinations for patients with clinically mild to moderate COVID-19 who did not need to be hospitalized for comprehensive treatment, but needed to be isolated in Fangcang shelter hospitals (also known as makeshift hospitals) to receive some supportive treatment. The container CT is a multidetector CT scanner installed within a radiation-protected stand-alone container (a detachable lead shielding room) that is deployed outside the makeshift hospital buildings. The container CT approach provided various medical institutions with the solution not only for rapid CT installation and high adaptability to site environments, but also for significantly minimizing the risk of cross-infection between radiological personnel and patients during CT examination in the pandemic. In this article, we described the typical setup of a container CT and how it worked for chest CT examinations in Wuhan city, the epicenter of COVID-19 outbreak.

The Application of Tissue Glue in Eyelid Laceration Repair in Children During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic Lockdown in Wuhan.

ObjectiveTo discuss a rapid and effective treatment used for children with eyelid lacerations during the COVID-19 lockdown in Wuhan to limit the risk of cross-infection.MethodsA comparative study was conducted of forty-five patients with eyelid lacerations who attended the Ophthalmology Department of Wuhan Children’s Hospital between January 23, 2020 and March 6, 2020. The tissue glue Histoacryl was used to bond the wounds in 24 cases, while the traditional suture method was used for 21 cases. The wound healing time, complications, treatment satisfaction, and number of visits of the two groups were compared.ResultsThe two groups had similar baseline characteristics. The wound healing time (from wound disinfection to wound dressing) was shorter in the tissue glue group (4.35 ± 0.47min versus 11.71 ± 1.85 min, P< 0.01). There was 1 case of wound dehiscence in the tissue glue group. Twenty-two cases in the tissue glue group were satisfied, 2 cases were basically satisfied, and 0 were dissatisfied. Eleven cases in the traditional suture group were satisfied, 9 cases were basically satisfied, and 1 case was dissatisfied. The difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). In terms of the number of visits, the tissue glue group visited (1.54 ± 0.88) times, while the traditional suture group visited (2.38 ± 0.59) times. The difference between the two groups was statistically significant (P < 0.01). The real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain tests for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 of all medical staff in the ophthalmology emergency room were negative.ConclusionCompared with the traditional suture method, tissue glue used in eyelid laceration in children has the advantages of painlessness, shorter operation duration, higher safety and satisfaction, greater ease of care, and fewer hospital visits. Tissue glue can be widely used to reduce the risk of cross-infection.

Comparing the efficacy of Neem extract, Aloe vera juice, and 0.2% Chlorhexidine against dental unit waterline pathogens. an In-vitro study

Introduction: Nosocomial infections are caused by the retrograde spread of viral, bacterial and fungal pathogens from the hospital environment to the patients. Despite the efforts to avoid cross-infection in the dental office using sterilized instruments, individual protection equipment, and disinfection procedures, there is an increased risk of cross-infection through dental units, since one dental chair is used to treat many patients. Materials and methods: Seven strains of micro-organisms- Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella, Enterococcus, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, E. coli, and Legionella were taken. Neem extract, Aloe Vera Juice, and 0.2% chlorhexidine were tested against all these organisms. Sterile discs were incorporated with an equal amount of prepared formulations using a micropipette. Then these discs were placed equidistant to each other following which these plates were incubated for 24 hours. Results: Zone of inhibition was higher in chlorhexidine 12mm, 22mm, 11mm, 8mm, 18mm, 12mm, 11mm, 14mm and 15 mm followed by neem extract 7mm, no inhibition, 10mm, 7mm, 11mm, 7mm, 11mm and 9 mm and no inhibition by Aloe Vera juice against Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella, Enterococcus, Staphylococcus Aureus, Candida albicans, E.coli and Legionella respectively. Conclusion: Results from this study have shown that chlorhexidine was most effective against dental unit waterline pathogens followed by neem extract and least by Aloe Vera juice.

Counseling About Disinfection During Repair of Acrylic Resin Dentures at Dental Laboratories in Malang and Kediri

Background: Sometimes the artificial teeth break or fracture, so then the patient asks the dentist to repair it. The dentist will then send the denture to be repaired by a dental technician in the dental laboratory. The transfer of work is likely to pose a risk of cross infection (for example: AIDS, hepatitis, tuberculosis, pneumonia and herpes. Objective: To transfer knowledge and technology of dentistry based on community needs objectively to obtain a strong foundation in carrying out health management of dental technicians . Implementation Method: Providing counseling to dental technicians on how to use disinfection materials and using props accompanied by interactive discussion Results: Implementation this programs is conducted at 2 locations in the city of Malang and Kediri Counseling is done by providing knowledge about how to disinfect dentures using chlorhexidine material by spraying it on the entire surface of the denture. Conclusion: The counseling activity which was held for a day received good reception from the participants.The dedication report was prepared to be a reference material in raising awareness of t dental technicians who work in dental laboratories to avoid cross-infection when doing denture repair

Effects of ceiling fans on airborne transmission in an air-conditioned space

Indoor airborne transmission largely depends on air distribution and ventilation. This study experimentally and numerically investigates steady-state aerosol transmission characteristics in a full-size room using a dedicated outdoor air system coupled with ceiling fans. Tracer gas was used to simulate the exhaled droplet nuclei from the infector, and a breathing thermal manikin was employed as a seated exposed person. Effects of air supply rates, ceiling fan speeds, source positions, and breathing modes of the exposed person on the aerosol transmission were studied. The increase of air change per hour from 4.5 to 5.6 and 7.5 reduced the averaged concentrations at sampling points by 18% and 38%, respectively. The ceiling fans generated local air movement and mixed air within the space, and a higher operating speed contributed to a more uniform concentration distribution. With better dispersion of the aerosols, the ceiling fan operation reduced the concentrations at the exposed person's breathing zone by more than 20%. The ceiling fans show the potential to reduce the cross-infection risk in an air-conditioned space.

Infection Control Measures in Dental Clinics during Coronavirus Disease-19 Pandemic in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Pilot Study

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease (COVID)-19 is an infectious respiratory disease causing different symptoms ranging from mild to more complicated cases. In dental clinics, there is a potential risk of cross-infection between dental health worker and patients. Therefore, new infection prevention measures have been recommended to minimize spread of COVID-19 in dental clinics. AIM: The aim of this study is to get an insight into the infection control measures followed by dentists and modification done in personal protective equipment (PPE) to combat spread of infection during COVID-19 in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. METHODS: A cross-sectional data using online Google survey. The sample included dentists working in either private or government from different regions in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Chi-square test was used to investigate the association between categorical variables (p &lt; 0.05) RESULTS: Seventy dentists included in the study of which 40% are working in Riyadh. Dental clinics are undertaken respiratory triage and reduce number of patients in waiting area (91% and 98%, respectively). Increased usage of PPE (head cap, face shield, and N95 mask) during the pandemic was observed in the study sample (p = 0.001). Working hours and number of patients were reduced during COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Evidence shows that majority of dentists working in KSA are following recommended measures to minimize the spread of COVID-19. Some dentists modified their PPE during the pandemic. However, further research is required to investigate adherence to infection control measures by dentists.

TELEDENTISTRY DURING COVID 19

The ongoing COVID19 pandemic has been a jarring blow to dental professionals as dental treatment requires close face-to-face encounters. To sustain the dental practice, Teledentistry is a cogent solution to continue providing dental care without adding to the risk of cross-infection via information technology. It is a necessary tool to obtain a balance between the safety of health care professionals still providing dental care to patients needing immediate intervention. The future of teledentistry is not limited to the pandemic its improvident to restrict the use of teledentistry when it has the potential to enhance the present dental health care delivery system.

Minimising the risk of cross infection between siblings with cystic fibrosis (CF) within the home: Successful domestic steam disinfection of CF bacterial and foodborne pathogens on common household cutlery and crockery utensils

Avoidance of cross infection is important between CF siblings living in the same household. In this study, we examined the ability of domestic steam disinfection to eradicate 16 species of CF bacterial and foodborne pathogens from the surface of contaminated crockery and cutlery. Domestic steam disinfection employing baby bottle disinfector devices, when performed properly under manufacturer's instructions, eradicated all organisms tested and offers a relatively inexpensive, simple, versatile and widely available technology for the elimination of common CF bacterial and foodborne pathogens from contaminated crockery and cutlery utensils. Most CF households may already have a baby bottle disinfector device, in order to disinfect nebulizers, respiratory equipment and toothbrushes and therefore employment of this device to disinfect crockery and cutlery would be easily achieved. We therefore advocate the employment of such devices to disinfect such common household utensils, as a critical control in the elimination of these organisms from these sources, thereby enhancing CF sibling safety.

Seasonal Variations in the Gut Fungal Communities of Hooded Crane (Grus monacha) at Wintering and Stopover Sites in China.

Simple SummaryThe gut fungi assist the host in various physiological activities, homeostasis, immune responses, and growth. The diversity and community composition of gut fungi are driven by multiple factors, including diet, environmental exposure, habitat type, and seasonal migration. Migratory birds have a peculiar life cycle, so it is interesting to understand the ecological function of their “gut fungal microbiome.” Birds are exposed to variable diets, environments, and habitats amid seasonal migration. The hooded crane is known as a long-distance migratory bird, inhabiting both wintering and stopover grounds during seasonal migration. During migratory seasons, it inhabits various habitats and is exposed to variable environments. This study analyzed the shifts between gut fungal diversity and the community composition of the hooded crane at both wintering and stopover sites amid seasonal migration. The gut fungal alpha diversity exhibited a more significant change during winter than in fall and spring. The gut fungal community composition exhibited significant shifts across winter, fall, and spring (ANOSIM, p = 0.001). The pathogenic diversity and relative abundance showed significant differences during winter at the wintering site relative to fall and spring at the stopover site. Moreover, the pathogenic fungal community composition was significantly different during fall, winter, and spring. This work contributes to present essential knowledge about the gut fungal microbiome of hooded cranes amid seasonal migration. This study also implicated that conservation measures for hooded crane conservation should be applied, as the risk of cross-transmission of potential fungal pathogens might increase during seasonal migration.The “gut fungal microbiome” maintains the immune system, homeostasis, and various physiological functions of an organism. Different factors shape and affect gut fungal diversity and community composition, such as environment, habitat type, food resources, and seasons during migration. Wild birds amid migration are exposed to different habitats with different environments, available food resources, and seasons, which may substantially impact their gut fungal community composition and diversity. The hooded crane (Grus monacha) is a known migratory bird that migrates over long distances and is exposed to varied habitats with different environments and food types. We investigated the differences in gut fungal diversity and community composition between wintering and stopover sites amid three migratory seasons. We deduced the gut fungal pathogenic diversity and community composition during winter, fall, and spring by using high throughput sequencing (Illumina Mi-seq), and the internal transcribed region 2 (ITS2) was examined. Samples were collected from Shengjin Lake in the winter and Lindian during the fall and spring. The dominant fungal phyla found across the three seasons were Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Zygomycota, and Rozellomycota. The gut fungal alpha diversity showed significant shifts during winter at the wintering site compared with the fall and spring seasons at the stopover site. The fungal community composition exhibited a significant change across the three seasons (ANOSIM p = 0.001). The results also demonstrated that the diversity and relative abundance of potential pathogens also showed divergence in winter compared to fall and spring. This study provides the basis for understanding the discrepancy in gut fungal diversity and community composition during migratory seasons at both wintering and stopover grounds. It also suggests that conservation measures should be applied to the conservation of hooded cranes and other wild birds, as the risk of cross-infection increases during seasonal migration.

Teledentistry: The Need of An Hour During Pandemic COVID-19

The epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), originating in Wuhan, China, has become a majorpublic health challenge. According to WHO, “It is possible to halt the virus spread, by adopting measuresto detect disease early, isolate and treat the cases, tracing the people who came in contact with those whoare infected, wearing gloves and masks, limitation of people going outside their home and promote socialdistancing measures.” Due to the characteristics of dental settings, the risk of cross infection can be highbetween patients and dental practitioners and can spread from patient to patient.As part of its efforts tomitigate the spread of the COVID-19 pandemicthe American Dental Association (ADA) provided essentialguidance on (i) emergency vs. nonemergency dental care and (ii) the use of teledentistry. In response to thecurrent health crisis, teledentistry is emerging as a viable care option in an effort to help “flatten the curve”of the COVID-19 pandemic.During the COVID-19 outbreak, teledentistry is an effective way to triagepatients and conduct problem-focused evaluations in order to limit office visits to patients needing urgent oremergency care. This article, based on relevant guidelines and research, introduces the essential knowledgeabout COVID-19, and focuses on how teledentistry can be helpful in preventing dental emergencies byproviding effective dental care to patients during quarantine, and also educate and motivate people to optnecessary dental hygiene measures.

Microsafe (Oral Care) to Control COVID-19 Infection

Dental practice poses a possible risk of cross-infection with COVID-19 among patients, dentists, and theirassistants by direct saliva exposure and indirect contact. At Al-Kafeel Hospital in Karbala, Iraq, This studyhas focused on using Microsafe (Oral car) as a mouthwash product to COVID-19 control infection.Materials and Methods: One hundred people used the Microsafe (oral care) as a mouthwash productto prevent COVID-19 for two months. Fifty persons from Al-Kafeel Hospital staff (dentists) are fullycommitted to prevention measures, and fifty persons from the Al-Kafeel Hospital patients regularly attendhospital treatment. Not all patients can be guaranteed and apply these preventive measures.Results: After two months of using Microsafe (oral care) as a mouthwash, only eleven of the total patientswere affected with COVID-19. Only three of the hospital staff and eight patients were affected.

Manejo de vía aérea en pacientes COVID-19: una encuesta sobre la experiencia de 1125 médicos en España

BackgroundWe explored the experience of clinicians from the Spanish Society of Anesthesiology in airway management of COVID-19 patients. MethodsAn software-based survey including a 32-item questionnaire was conducted from April 18 to May 17, 2020. Participants who have been involved in tracheal intubations in patients with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection were included anonymously after obtaining their informed consent. The primary outcome was the preferred airway device for tracheal intubation. Secondary outcomes included the variations in clinical practice including the preferred video laryngoscope, plans for difficult airway management, and personal protective equipment. Results1125 physicians completed the questionnaire with a response rate of 40,9%. Most participants worked in public hospitals and were anesthesiologists.The preferred device for intubation was the video laryngoscope (5.1/6), with the type of device in decreasing order as follows: Glidescope, C-MAC, Airtraq, McGrath and King Vision. The most frequently used device for intubation was the video laryngoscope (70,5%), using them in descending order as follow: the Airtraq, C-MAC, Glidescope, McGrath and King Vision.Discomfort of intubating wearing personal protective equipment and the frequency of breaching a security step was statistically significant, increasing the risk of cross infection between patients and physicians. The opinion of senior doctors differed from younger physicians in the type of video-laryngoscope used, the number of experts involved in tracheal intubation and the reason that caused more stress during the airway management. ConclusionsMost physicians preferred using a video-laryngoscope with remote monitor and disposable Macintosh blade, using the Frova guide.

Telemedicine for ear diseases with the smartphone otoscopes via WeChat in the COVID-19 era

PurposeThis study aimed to evaluate the outcomes and satisfaction of ear patients who participated in the smartphone otoscopes telemedicine via WeChat. MethodsPatients in this study included newly diagnosed outpatients and online patients who did not undergo an outpatient diagnosis. Patients performed regular ear self-examinations, took pictures at home using their smartphone endoscopes, and submitted images to a WeChat community. Otolaryngologist gave timely online feedback. All of the following data were recorded: patients age and gender, disease duration, outpatient diagnosis, side, telemedicine duration, number of telemedicine visits, outcomes, satisfaction. ResultsA total of 74 patients were included in the study, including 39 males and 35 females, with an average age of 31.1 ± 13.7 years (range 4–55 years). Of these patients, 68 were outpatients, and 6 directly participated in telemedicine online. The patient's disease duration ranged from 1 day to 15 days, with an average of 4.0 ± 3.0 days. The mean duration was 8.1 days (range: 3–21 days) for telemedicine. The mean number of visits was 2.7 times (range: 2–6 times) for telemedicine. 68 (91.9%) of the 74 patients were cured, 6 (8.1%) were improved, and 0 (0%) were ineffective. Almost all patients were pleased with the telemedicine service, 71.9 0% were very satisfied (n = 62), 28.10% were very satisfied (n = 11), and 0% were dissatisfied (n = 0). ConclusionsSmartphone otoscopes telemedicine can decrease outpatient follow-up, reduce the risk of cross-infection, increase telemedicine accuracy, and improve patient satisfaction. It is worthy of clinical application in the COVID-19 era.