|
Infection Control Today
Back To COVID-19 Home Page
46. Rush to Reopen Buys COVID-19 More Time
There needs to be a shift from droplet
precaution standards to airborne spread standards and we need to
invest in the safety of our frontline workers. Quite simply, this
virus is aerosolized, meaning it is airborne. I really thought this
had been decided last July when a letter was sent to the World
Health Organization (WHO) by 329 top scientists from 33 countries.
But although agencies responded by recognizing airborne spread in
some of their statements and webpages, their recommendations on
controlling spread and reopening of businesses and schools largely
did not. Most importantly, the CDC needs to articulate firm and
harmonized advisements which are consistent across all materials,
recommendations and webpages. Until this happens, there will not be
a demand for N95 masks and air sanitization units. Manufacturing
will not gear up production and pathogens will continue to spread.
We need to enact these reforms not only for COVID-19 and the next
pandemic, but for other endemic dangerous pathogens. Our children
deserve better than the status quo. Infection Control Today.
Mar. 4, 2021.
References https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/rush-to-reopen-buys-covid-19-more-time
45. Viewpoint: CDC’s School Reopening Plan Gets an ‘F’
The argument that preventative strategies
need to be tailored to the needs and resources of local communities,
along with a one-size-does-not-fit-all approach, may placate
political pressures, but the virus does not care. You need to do
what you need to do to control the disease. It needs to be clearly
stated what needs to be done and if a community cannot comply and
wants to open schools, then the parents need to be informed of the
increased risks to students. Recommendations should not be changed
to reassure families of a degree of safety which does not
exist.....Frequent, (three times a week) screening of our athletes
has been key to the opening of professional sports. Our students
deserve the same safety precautions as professional athletes.
Infection Control Today. Feb. 15, 2021.
References
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/viewpoint-cdc-s-school-reopening-plan-gets-an-f-
44. Beginning of the End? Some Hopeful COVID Developments
The good news? The fact that 3 different
viruses with 3 different lineages came up with the same mutation to
evade natural immunity and the vaccines. And initial reports are
that it only partially evades the vaccines. And one needs to ask,
why did these viruses not come up with different mutations? After
all they do not plan the mutations, they evolve by random chance.
Maybe the answer is that this random amino acid combination is
possibly the last major mutation the virus can produce without
changing its ability to enter the cells or its infectivity.
Infection Control Today. Feb. 3, 2021.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/beginning-of-the-end-some-hopeful-covid-developments
Kentucky Health
News. Feb. 3, 2021.
http://kyhealthnews.blogspot.com/2021/02/as-virus-mutations-pop-up-around-world.html
43. Problem: COVID-19 Hospital-Acquired Infections
HSJ analyzed England’s National Health
Service Data regarding hospital-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infections.
SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19 and unfortunately HSJ
found that hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are not uncommon,
estimated to cause almost 1 in 4 hospital COVID-19 cases. We need to
have mandatory reporting of worker and patient acquisition of
SARS-CoV-2 and the development of COVID-19 with metrics to provide
us the most accurate estimate of cases so we can effectively plan
and allocate resources.
Infection Control Today. Jan. 20, 2021.
References
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/problem-covid-19-hospital-acquired-infections
42. As Vaccine Rollout Stalls, Move Monoclonal Antibodies
Into COVID Fight
As of January 16, 2021, only 39.4% of the
31.2 million allocated vaccine doses have been placed in arms. The
original goal was to vaccinate 20 million citizens by the end of
2020. Until vaccines become widely available, it is imperative that
those at high risk for severe COVID-19 be offered monoclonal
antibody therapy. So far, the use of monoclonal antibodies has not
been a priority in the United States’ COVID-19 response, and the
medication has largely gone unused, with 80% of the 600,000 doses
still “sitting on shelves.” Monoclonal antibodies need to be given
within 3 days of diagnosis and to those who are at high risk for
severe COVID-19. To locate a facility, the Dept. of Health and Human
Services has posted a medication locator at:
https://combatcovid.hhs.gov/ Then click on the "Find
Infusion Locations" screen button.
Infection Control Today. Jan. 17, 2021.
References
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/as-vaccine-rollout-stalls-move-monoclonal-antibodies-into-covid-fight
41. COVID-19 Variants Make Infection Prevention Harder
Infection preventionists need to spread
the message and articulate the uncertainties of this new variant of
COVID-19. They need to emphasize that it is just not the old who are
at risk and employ stricter containment measures.... Many
health departments are understaffed. In one Kentucky Public Health
District, staffing has been cut almost in half over the last decade.
Our stressed healthcare system has an inadequate infrastructure to
administer the initial vaccine dose, let alone doubling the effort
to administer the second dose. Infection Control Today. Jan. 4,
2021.
References
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/covid-19-variants-make-infection-prevention-harder
40. Vaccines Should Work Against New COVID-19 Strain
We must treat this strain with the
respect it deserves, but we must not panic. There is no doubt that
increased infectivity equates with increases in deaths, but it does
not mean the vaccines will not work. It is imperative that we follow
public health advice. Just remember what happened to the snow
leopards in the Louisville Zoo, they are exceptionally good at
enforcing social distancing, but not so good at wearing masks. They
caught COVID-19. Thus, you must do both. And be steadfast, since we
have to slow down the spread of SARS-CoV-2, so the viruses natural
production laboratory does not outstrip the capacity of our
pharmaceutical giants. Infection Control Today. Dec. 22, 2020.
References
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/vaccines-should-work-against-new-covid-19-strain
39. Viewpoint: Monitoring Systems Track COVID Vaccine
Reactions
V-Safe and VAERS are 2 monitoring systems
for patients who are given a COVID-19 vaccine. Infection
preventionists can play a vital role in educating about the
strengths and drawbacks of each. However, questions remain. We do
not know how long immunity will last, if those vaccinated can become
infectious as an asymptomatic carrier, or how the vaccine affects
special populations such as those who are pregnant, very young or
immunosuppressed. Infection Control Today. Dec. 15, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/viewpoint-monitoring-systems-track-covid-vaccine-reactions
38. COVID-19 Vaccine? Hurry Up and Wait
At last, the vaccines are here! Or are
they? There appears to be a shortfall, not enough to initially
vaccinate even all of the frontline healthcare workers and nursing
home residents against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). By some
estimates only about 20% of the expected doses will be available by
year’s end. Shortages can more easily be corrected, than the
combating of anti-vaxxer misinformation. However recent polls have
been reassuring, with those willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine
increasing to 63%. Infection preventionists are an important
component of this effort and need to actively articulate to both
patients and on social media the need to be vaccinated and to follow
public health advice. Infection Control Today. Dec. 10, 2020.
References https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/covid-19-vaccine-hurry-up-and-wait
37. Healthcare Workers Hit by COVID Need Workers Comp
"Kevin Kavanagh, MD. In a wide-ranging
discussion, Kavanagh—a member of Infection Control Today®’s
Editorial Advisory Board—says that the nation isn’t doing nearly
enough to help those on the frontlines battling the coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Kavanagh says that “these
frontline healthcare workers are putting their lives at risk, and
also the lives of their families and loved ones. And they need to be
given support; at least proper protective equipment. In my opinion,
they should get presumptive workers comp, if they start to develop
problems. This is a significant problem.” The public isn’t taking
the disease seriously enough and leaders are not leading."
Infection Control Today. Nov. 17, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/healthcare-workers-stricken-by-covid-need-workers-comp
36. Viewpoint: Healthcare Workers Not Being Protected from
COVID
Faced with greater than three times the
number of cases as the last surge, along with exponential growth
with no end in sight, there is little hope healthcare workers can
safely treat patients without a drastic change in policy and a more
productive and secure supply line. Infection Control
Today. Nov. 16, 2020.
References https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/viewpoint-healthcare-workers-not-being-protected-from-covid
35. Viewpoint: Quackery Might Stall Progress Against
COVID-19
The worst-case scenario is that if an
effective and safe COVID-19 vaccine is found, a large segment of our
population will elect to use hydroxychloroquine or another
ineffective treatment instead, allowing the virus to continue to
thrive, and devastate our nation. As a nation, we can easily defeat
this virus, but it requires us to trust modern science and embrace a
national strategy coordinated by public health officials and our
federal government. Let’s not embrace attitudes and views of the
1800’s. Infection Control Today. Nov. 7, 2020.
References
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/viewpoint-quackery-might-stall-progress-against-covid-19
34. COVID Vaccine: What Infection Preventionists Need to Know
Kevin Kavanagh, MD: "Infection
preventionists will need to make sure that they still have access to
adequate PPE, even if the vaccine comes out [and they] really need
to look at the experimental group that was used for the EUA."
And believe me, if I was a frontline healthcare worker at my age, a
vaccine would really have to have a lot of complications and
concerns before I would not get it. Now that's just a personal view.
Because if it adds any armor to protect me from a highly infectious
disease that's very prevalent in our community, that has a high rate
of fatality, and even a higher rate of chronic disability, I would
opt for that vaccine.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/covid-vaccine-what-infection-preventionists-need-to-know
33. FDA Panel Reviews Many Challenges Facing a COVID
Vaccine -- Vaccines: Safety & Efficacy
The overall cost for society is far too high for a flawed and
relaxed vaccine approval process. If the vaccine has low effectivity
and primarily prevents mild disease, it will offer little protection
to society and may cause inconceivable harm. To paraphrase Peter
Luri, MD, MPH, from the Center for Science in Public Interest—The
benefits of a minimally effective vaccine can be negated if the
public relaxes wearing masks and social distancing. But even worse,
if the vaccine is ineffective, it will further fuel the antivaccine
movement for decades to come. Infection Control Today.
Oct. 25, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/fda-panel-reviews-many-challenges-facing-a-covid-vaccine
References
32. Viewpoint: The “Not So” Great Barrington
Declaration
Recently, an international group of scientists signed
a declaration advocating for achieving herd immunity from
coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) by opening communities and
business, while protecting the vulnerable with "focused protection."
The Declaration states: "A comprehensive and detailed list of
measures, including approaches to multi-generational households, can
be implemented, and is well within the scope and capability of
public health professionals." But to be honest, I’m not sure how
this can be done.
Currently, the United States is undergoing a third peak of
infections on our first wave and the metrics, of cases and test
positivity rates are increasing.
For infection preventionists and frontline healthcare workers, the
Great Barrington Declaration places their lives and livelihood at
risk. A field hospital has been activated in Wisconsin and the state
is at risk of running out of hospital beds and trained staff.
Infection Control Today. Oct. 15, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/viewpoint-the-not-so-great-barrington-declaration
References
31. Q&A: Are Infection Preventionists Being
Misinformed?
Kevin Kavanagh, MD: “Many of the infection
preventionists over the last six months now have more experience
than many of the policymakers up in DC, because they’ve lived it
firsthand. And they’ve seen how COVID-19 can spread. And they’re
starting to develop a good idea of how to stop it.” “There have been
a number of statements from the CDC or at least with the CDC label
on it, which have been disturbing,” Kavanagh tells ICT®. Some of
those disturbing statements can be attributed to the fact that the
CDC and the rest of the world didn’t quite know what it was dealing
with, but not all of them. Kavanagh worries that political pressure
may be at work. One of the ways infection preventionists (IPs) can
educate themselves is to look at what’s being done in other
countries, and read the comments under pre-print studies. Also,
experience counts, and IPs have now had months of dealing with the
coronavirus. Infection Control Today. Oct. 9, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/q-a-are-infection-preventionists-being-misinformed-
30. School Daze: COVID-19 Spreads Fear, Confusion:
"Opening schools should depend upon low rates of viral
spread in the community, widespread testing, rigorous following of
public health guidelines, and upgrading the physical infrastructure
of our buildings. Our schools are anything but healthy buildings.18
Concerns have existed for decades regarding both the air quality and
the crowded conditions our children are exposed to. COVID-19 should
be viewed as an opportunity for transformation, allowing us to build
a better school system with smaller class sizes for better education
and implement strategies to prevent the spread of all infectious
diseases" Infection Control Today Oct 2020. (Page 28)
https://cdn.sanity.io/files/0vv8moc6/infenctioncontrol/
5f2ddf41a688625d1f8afd54dcb8e87d7cb5cbfa.pdf
References
29. Trick or Treat … or COVID-19? Yes it is
Airborne
Traditional trick or treating is viewed as a
high-risk-activity by the CDC. Of course, we all knew Halloween
would be problematic. An important caveat for Halloween is not to
use your Halloween mask to prevent the spread of coronavirus. It
will offer very little protection. These recommendations contain
many important lessons both for Halloween and how we should be
living our lives in general. And Yes it is Airborne.
Infection Control Today. Sept. 28, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/trick-or-treat-or-covid-19-
References
28. Eli Lilly Neutralizing
Antibodies: Breakthrough for COVID-19 Treatment?
Eli Lilly announced preliminary results to their
SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody product, LY-CoV555, which was
reported to have spectacular results with a 72% decrease in
hospitalizations or ER visits when mildly or moderately symptomatic
patients are given the drug within 3 days of diagnosis.
As observed in the Eli Lilly study, those newly diagnosed patients
who are obese or have advanced age are the most likely to become
hospitalized, and I feel initially this innovative product should be
targeted toward these high-risk patients. Infection Control
Today. Sept. 17, 2020.
Download Original Article
References
Updated Oct. 8, 2020.
Downloaded Article
(The article was updated again on Nov. 10
by ICT Editorial Board Staff)
27. Taking Aim at Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria
During COVID - A review of the Fall 2020 PACCARB Meeting.
Patients afflicted with COVID-19 have an increased
susceptibility to antibiotic resistant infections both from
prolonged hospitalizations and the use of immunocompromising agents
such as dexamethasone. Infection Control Today. Sept. 16,
2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/taking-aim-at-antibiotic-resistant-bacteria-during-covid
References
26. Is COVID-19 Primarily a Heart and Vascular
Diseases?
Thus, the once thought asymptomatic patients who
luckily dodged a bullet and were spared from the ravages of the
disease, may indeed be truly sick. A significant portion of them may
develop myocarditis along with vascular vasodilation with resultant
hypoxemia. This pathological process could easily be more
significant than the pulmonary effects of the virus, since it is
present in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. And could
explain the debilitating symptoms of fatigue and mental fog which
“long-haulers” are experiencing, many of which had a mild initial
illness. Infection Control Today. Sept. 8, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/is-covid-19-primarily-a-heart-and-vascular-diseases
References
25. Viewpoint: Infection Preventionist Guide to
Dealing with COVID Misinformation
"It is imperative that infection preventionists engage
and combat this messaging on social media and wherever it occurs. To
not do so, allows misinformation to fan the pandemic, placing all of
our lives at risk."
After one leave retorts to the misinformation, "you will notice that
you have numerous exchanges with one individual. That this
individual has left a junkyard full of highly complex and intwined
web of misinformation. Yet for all of this work, when you go to the
troll’s home page, it will most likely be blank. This tells you may
be dealing with a professional. If the troll responded to you
throughout the entire day, he may well be on a payroll." Sept. 7,
2020. Infection Control Today.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/viewpoint-infection-preventionist-guide-to-dealing-with-covid-misinformation
References
24. Q&A: Flu Data Show Potency of Anti-COVID
Tactics Like Masking, Hand Hygiene
Wear a mask, good hand hygiene, follow social
distancing guidelines: The strategies just mentioned might snuff out
COVID-19 in the long term, says Kavanagh, if everybody follows them.
“But when you look at the flu, which isn’t as infectious, you would
expect it to just annihilate that type of a pandemic and organism
and that’s what we’re seeing in the Southern Hemisphere,” says
Kavanagh. “Now, that of course is contingent that we follow this
guidance, which as you know, is anywhere but universally accepted by
the American public.” Aug. 18, 2020. Infection Control
Today.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/q-and-a-flu-data-show-potency-of-anti-covid-tactics-like-masking-hand-hygiene
23. The 2020 Flu: Dud or Devastation, It is Up To
You
"This year we have to do more than just rely on the
flu vaccine. Avoiding the flu plus COVID-19 catastrophe is
contingent on the US widely embracing public health guidance of
wearing masks, meticulous hand hygiene and social distancing."
"If one looks at the data from the CDC, the flu became almost
nonexistent in the United States by the end of March, with a very
steep drop-off in cases. The World Health Organization (WHO) data
from the Southern Hemisphere is even more surprising. Summer is
their peak Flu season. But unlike previous years no viral specimens
were submitted to the WHO from many countries during the Summer
months." Infection Control Today. Aug. 18, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/the-2020-flu-dud-or-devastation-it-is-up-to-you
References
22. Infection Preventionists Might be Needed in
Schools
Similar to our healthcare system as a whole, COVID-19 is
shedding a light on deficiencies and the dearth of personal
safeguards in our schools. Let us not forget, schools are a nidus
for spreading the flu and other diseases. Opening schools should
depend upon low rates of viral spread in the community, widespread
testing, rigorous following of public health guidelines and
upgrading the physical infrastructure of our buildings. COVID-19
should be viewed as an opportunity for transformation, allowing us
to build a better school system with smaller class sizes for better
education and implement strategies to prevent the spread of all
infectious diseases. Infection Control Today. Aug. 10,
2020.
21. New Study: Hydroxychloroquine Works in
Monkeys, Not Humans
Thus, at this point, there is no compelling evidence
to recommend the use of hydroxychloroquine for clinical use and
several large organizations have suspended research involving this
drug. There has been an enormous amount of valuable scientific
resources which have been devoted to answering this scientific, now
political, issue. These resources would have been better spent on
more promising treatment modalities, such as studying Camostat
mesilate or nafamostat mesylate therapy for COVID-19, a compound
which has been shown to block TMPRSS2 . Infection Control
Today. Aug. 3, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/new-study-hydroxychloroquine-works-in-monkeys-not-humans
20. National Reporting System for All Dangerous
Pathogens Needed
After decades of reluctance to implement a national
reporting system, when COVID-19 came along we witnessed almost
overnight the formulation of case definitions and comprehensive
national reporting from all healthcare facilities. A dangerous
pathogen is a dangerous pathogen; we should not discriminate on our
approach to COVID-19. The nursing home reporting policies for
COVID-19 need to be adopted systemwide for all dangerous pathogens
and our infrastructure permanently enhanced. One may think
that enhancement is a forgone conclusion. But we did not learn these
lessons from the 1918 Spanish flu or from the Ebola, severe acute
respiratory syndrome (SARS) or Middle East respiratory syndrome
(MERS) outbreaks. Six months or 6 years after this epidemic our
resolve may wane. IPs need to document their experiences and keep
telling their stories so our memories of this horrific ordeal do not
fade. Infection Control Today. July 20, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/covid-19-experience-suggests-need-for-national-reporting-system-for-dangerous-pathogens
19. Viewpoint: Despite Happy Talk, We’re Far From
Out of the COVID Woods
COVID-19 cases in many states have risen and the false
narrative is that this is because of increased testing. But the rise
in cases far outstrips the rise in testing... the young are not
shielded from the viruses’ devastating effects. We need to take this
pandemic seriously, the public needs to wear masks and practice
social distancing. As stated by Avindra Nath, MD, the senior
investigator at the Section of Infections of the Nervous System at
National Institutes of Health: “It’s quite possible some will never
get their health back." Infection Control Today. June 22,
2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/viewpoint-despite-happy-talk-we-re-far-from-out-of-the-covid-woods
18. COVID-19 Experience Suggests Need for National
Reporting System for Dangerous Pathogens
It is of utmost importance to screen healthcare staff
and patients for dangerous pathogens along with the establishment of
a national tracking system. The nursing home reporting policies for
COVID-19 need to be adopted system wide for all dangerous pathogens
and our infrastructure permanently enhanced. One may think
that enhancement is a forgone conclusion. But we did not learn these
lessons from the 1918 Spanish flu or from the Ebola, SARS or MERS
outbreaks. Six months or six years after this epidemic our resolve
may wane. IPs need to document their experiences and keep telling
their stories so our memories of this horrific ordeal do not fade.
Infection Control Today. June 8, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/covid-19-experience-suggests-need-national-reporting-system-dangerous-pathogens
17. Reopening After COVID-19 Needs to be Done
Carefully
Kevin Kavanagh, MD, the board chairman of the patient
advocacy group Health Watch USAsm, talks to Infection
Control Today about the perils of reopening too quickly and the
value of cloth masks. "What worries me the most about reopening is
that people are going to say, 'Oh, it's over with' and not do any sort
of protection, whether it's social distancing, wearing masks, not
gathering in crowds. I really think that people will think, 'Well,
we got this beat.'" Infection Control Today. May 28,
2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/qa-reopening-after-covid-19-proceed-caution
16. Why the Public Should Wear Masks During the
COVID-19 Pandemic
Initially, the public was advised not to wear masks.
However, this was before the importance of asymptomatic transmission
was known. Recent studies have also underscored the growing
importance of person-to-person transmission through the air.
Guidance changed. It is now recommended for the public to wear
cotton masks. This guidance is not intended to protect the wearer,
but to help prevent the wearer from spreading the virus to others if
they are an unknown asymptomatic carrier. Infection
Control Today. May 27, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/why-public-should-wear-masks-during-covid-19-pandemic
15. When COVID-19 Knocks on Nursing Homes’ Doors,
Systemic Problems Welcome It.
"Despite nursing homes becoming a nidus of multi-drug
resistant organisms (MDROs), the regulations for staffing infection
preventionists (IPs) at nursing homes are far too lax. Nursing homes
should have a full-time IP. Presently the regulations only specify a
part-time IP without a specific required time commitment. In view of
the large number of nursing home residents and the high
drug-resistant carriage rate, a full-time position is certainly
needed." Infection Control Today. May 7, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/when-covid-19-knocks-nursing-homes-doors-systemic-problems-welcome-it
14. Viewpoint: COVID-19 Modeling: Lies, Damn Lies
and Statistics.
"We have now received our fourth projection on deaths.
I'm not sure if it will be right or wrong, but the others have
proven to not be correct, so I'm not hopeful for this one. That is
actually good news because the last projection doubles the number of
expected deaths to 134,475 by Aug 4, 2020." Infection
Control Today. May 6, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/
viewpoint-covid-19-modeling-lies-damn-lies-and-statistics
13. Viewpoint: Have You Heard About the Herd? It’s a COVID-19
Fallacy.
"Strategies of social distancing, not gathering in large crowds,
wearing masks and protecting those at increased risk are required to
manage this epidemic. Returning to life as usual with the dependence
on herd immunity in a non-vaccinated population to control spread is
almost certainly a false narrative." Infection Control Today.
April 29, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/viewpoint-have-you-heard-about-herd-its-covid-19-fallacy
12. Kevin Kavanagh & Lindsay Calderon. Lessons of the
Hydroxychloroquine Debacle: Solid COVID-19 Research Matters.
"In the new reality of making decisions with limited and incomplete
data, it is important that decision makers and scientists are free
from biases. Biases can be financial and even geopolitical
pressure created by the huge trade war and divisive rhetoric between
the United States and China. In a time of great national fear and
stress, we must be careful in both reporting and interpreting
messaging, including the results of unconfirmed research. Let’s not
repeat the mistakes of HCQ for unproven benefits, since these are
powerful drugs which may also cause harm."
Infection Control Today. April 26, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/lessons-hydroxychloroquine-debacle-solid-covid-19-research-matters
11 . Viewpoint: CDC's Changing Guidance Underscores How
COVID-19 Keeps Winning.
"Needless to say, additional PPE is desperately needed, hopefully
both increased manufacturing and sterilization techniques will
relieve the shortage. In addition, the strategy adopted by New York
State to designate some facilities to exclusively treat COVID-19
patients and others for non-COVID-19 patients to help improve
patient safety should be adopted in other areas of the nation.
We must make protecting our frontline healthcare workers and
patients a priority. Rapid testing will go a long way in assuring
the safety of patients by identifying asymptomatic carriers in
healthcare workers and staff." Infection Control Today.
April 15, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/viewpoint-cdcs-changing-guidance-underscores-how-covid-19-keeps-winning
10. Viewpoint: As COVID-19 Spreads, Where's All the Money
Hospitals Have Made?
"There is no excuse for running a system which is lean on hospital
rooms, supplies and staff. Net-profits and assets are desirable, but
not at the expense of public safety. Hospital staff are being asked
to see patients under draconian conditions and at the same time they
do not have an adequate economic and healthcare safety net.
Healthcare workers do not need paid sick leave, they need adequate
PPE and worker's compensation benefits, if they become infected. IPs
are placing both themselves and their families' lives at grave risk
under the crisis management CDC infectious disease recommendations.
That is the very least we can do for them."
Infection Control Today(redacted version). April 10, 2020: https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/viewpoint-covid-19-spreads-where%E2%80%99s-all-money-hospitals-have-made
9. Authorities are split on what to do if a person is already
on ACE Inhibitors and ARBs.
Many in the United States have
advocated to stay the course, until more information is known.
Switching medications may be difficult at best. At the least,
until this controversy can be resolved, if you are on one of these
medications one should perform strict social distancing and protect
yourself from contracting COVID-19. Staying safe at home is
best and follow strict recommendations when contacting the public.
Infection Control Today. April 7, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/viewpoint-what-do-about-ace-inhibitors-during-covid-19-pandemic
Health Watch USAsm Summary of Recommendations Regarding
ACE Inhibitors and ARBs with COVID-19.
8. Churches Could be the Deadliest Places in the COVID-19 Pandemic.
One may ask: Why am I calling out churches? The answer is
asymptomatic spread and aerosolization of the virus from singing.
Infection Control Today. April 3, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/churches-could-be-deadliest-places-covid-19-pandemic
7. As COVID-19 Knocks on Nursing Homes' Doors, Full-Time
Infection Preventionists Needed More Than Ever. "Despite nursing
homes becoming a nidus of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs),
the regulations for staffing infection preventionists (IPs) at
nursing homes are far too lax. Nursing homes should have a full-time
IP. Presently the regulations only specify a part-time IP without a
specific required time commitment. In view of the large number of
nursing home residents and the high drug-resistant carriage rate, a
full time position is certainly needed." Infection Control Today.
March 27, 2020.
Download PDF of Article
6. Evidence Continues to
Link ACE Inhibitors to Severe COVID-19 Symptoms
There is mounting consensus that ACE inhibitors may be a primary
driver of the severe symptoms. The concerns were originally raised
in the Lancet. ACE inhibitors up regulate (increase) the ACE2
receptor. This is the receptor the COVID-19 virus uses to attack the
lungs. Infection Control Today. March 26, 2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/evidence-continues-link-ace-inhibitors-severe-covid-19-symptoms
Health Watch USAsm Summary of Recommendations Regarding
ACE Inhibitors and ARBs with COVID-19.
5. COVID-19: We'll Know We've Won the War Against
COVID-19 When...
"Judging when we have won the war against the coronavirus is not
simple. The good news is that we have the technology and know-how to
confront and substantially mitigate these epidemics. What we have
lacked is the willpower to implement this knowledge. If we are
unable to rapidly transform our system and correct these flagrant
deficiencies, then the worse projections from the Imperial College
projections of 2.2 million United States citizen fatalities may come
to pass" Infection Control Today. Mar. 20, 2020 (Online).
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/well-know-weve-won-war-against-covid-19-when
4. COVID-19: IPs, Other Healthcare Workers at Greater Jeopardy Than
Thought.
"Of extreme concern, of the 3711 Diamond Princess cruise ship
passengers, 634 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus which
causes COVID-19) and of these 17.9% were asymptomatic and presumably
could spread the virus." Infection Control Today. Mar. 17, 2020
(Online).
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/covid-19-ips-other-healthcare-workers-greater-jeopardy-thought
3. Viewpoint: US Woefully Unprepared for COVID-19 Pandemic.
"A news commentator made the alarmist statement that we may get to
the point where the national guard is escorting patients to a high
school gym for placement on ventilators. This is of course a
ridiculously misinformed statement since we do not have enough
ventilators."
Infection Control Today. Mar. 11, 2020 (Online).
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/viewpoint-us-woefully-unprepared-covid-19-pandemic
2. We’re Losing the Fight Against COVID-19 So Far.
"We seem to be at risk of entering into a blame game and
"politicizing" the problems. Our response to this contagion shows
severe flaws in our healthcare delivery system. As one government
official stated, "We have for whatever reason and there are many
good ones, designed a system based on very lean staffing practices
based on just-in-time supply chains and purchasing." Infection
Control Today. Mar. 9, 2020 (Online).
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/viewpoint-were-losing-fight-against-covid-19-so-far
1. Infection Preventionists, Hospital Administrators Will Be on
Frontlines of Coming COVID-19 Epidemic. "Preparation for the
impending epidemic of the COVID-19 coronavirus is of utmost
importance and will place a tremendous strain on our healthcare
system that will require coordination between the IPs,
administrators and the hospital's board. This impending epidemic
underscores the importance of the work that the CDC is undertaking
by using surveillance and quarantine strategies to delay entry and
slow the spread of this pathogen." Infection Control Today. Feb. 27,
2020.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/infection-preventionists-hospital-administrators-will-be-frontlines-coming-covid-19-epidemic
Back To COVID-19 Home Page
This webpage is for guidance only,
always consult your healthcare provider and the
CDC Website for information before making decisions relating to
the coronavirus.
Return To Health Watch USA Home Page
|