COVID-19 pandemic and blood transfusion services: The impact, response and preparedness experience of a tertiary care blood center in southern Karnataka, India

Abstract Introduction With the outbreak of COVID-19 and its containment measures, blood centers faced a huge challenge in balancing blood demand and supply and devising a preparedness plan to withstand the uncertain situation. This study assesses the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on blood transfusion services and discusses the appropriate mitigation strategies adopted. Methods We analyzed our center's blood transfusion services during the first half-period of the pandemic (Y3) and non-pandemic years 2018(Y1) and 2019(Y2) in two-quarters Q1 (pre-lockdown), from January to March and Q2 (post-lockdown), from April to June. The blood donation variables, the packed red blood cells (PRBCs) demand and the utilization pattern were compared between pandemic (Y3) and non-pandemic years (Y1 and Y2) in each quarter. The mitigation strategy adopted at every step of the transfusion service is highlighted. Results During post-lockdown (Q2) of the pandemic year (Y3), the blood donation was majorly by repeat donors (83%) from the in-house site (82.5%). Furthermore, the proportion of outdoor donation, deferral, blood collection, demand and issue demonstrated a significant drop of 50%, 32.6%, 33%, 31.8% and 32.3%, respectively, in comparison to Q2 of the non-pandemic years (Y1 and Y2), with a statistically significant difference for surgical and hemorrhagic indications (p < 0.05). Coping strategies, such as blood donor education and motivation using e-platforms emphasizing eligibility during the pandemic, staggering of donor in-flow, postponement of elective surgeries and donor and staff' COVID-19 safety assurance, were followed. Conclusion The timely adoption of coping strategies played a crucial role in the better handling of shortcomings at our center's blood transfusion services caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aplicação de uma planilha de controle de estoque em uma unidade de alimentação e nutrição / Application of a stock control sheet in a food and nutrition unit

Introdução: O profissional nutricionista tem, entre suas atribuições, o planejamento de cardápios e o controle de estoque. Dentre as inúmeras atividades inerentes ao setor de alimentação coletiva, a importância da gestão de suprimentos pode passar despercebida e acarretar problemas na execução dos cardápios, gerando monotonia nos mesmos. Assim, ferramentas de controle são necessárias, visto que a monotonia alimentar pode acarretar problemas à saúde dos usuários. Objetivo: Este trabalho teve como objetivo apresentar a elaboração e implantação de uma planilha de controle de estoque em uma unidade de alimentação e nutrição (UAN) de uma instituição de ensino superior pública. Métodos: O trabalho foi desenvolvido e executado no Restaurante Universitário da Escola Agrícola de Jundiaí, da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, localizada no distrito de Jundiaí, Macaíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil, com levantamento das fichas de controle. Resultados: O produto deste trabalho foi uma planilha no formato Excel® para controle dos gêneros alimentícios secos do estoque. Observou-se que, além de controlar a entrada e a saída dos gêneros, a planilha auxiliou na tomada de decisão de compra e reabastecimento de suprimentos. Conclusão: Diante dos objetivos almejados, a planilha foi desenvolvida e aplicada com êxito, alcançando a finalidade esperada pelo serviço. (AU)

Introduction: the professional nutritionist has the tasks of planning menus and, consequently, stock control. Among countless activities inherent to the collective food sector, the importance of supply management can go unnoticed and cause problems in the execution of the menus, generating monotony in them. So, control tools are needed, since food monotony can cause health problems for users. Objective: this study aimed to present the preparation and implementation of a stock control spreadsheet in a food and nutrition unit (FNU) of a public higher education institution. Methods: the study was developed and carried out at the Restaurante Universitário da Escola Agrícola de Jundiaí (University Restaurant of the Agricultural School of Jundiaí), of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte), located in the District of Jundiaí, Macaíba, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, with a survey of control cards. Results: the product of this study was a spreadsheet in Excel® format to control dry foodstuffs from the stock. It was observed that in addition to controlling the entry and exit of the genders, the spreadsheet also helped in the decision to purchase and replenish supplies. Conclusion: in view of the desired objectives, the spreadsheet was developed and applied successfully, reaching the purpose expected by the service. (AU)

Una nueva visión en la gestión de la logística de aprovisionamientos en la industria biotecnológica cubana / A new vision in the management of supply logistics in the cuban biotechnological industry

El objetivo de esta investigación es proponer una nueva metodología en la gestión logística de los aprovisionamientos para las industrias biotecnológicas cubanas que funcionan esencialmente con un ciclo completo de desempeño empresarial, desde la investigación básica de nuevos biofármacos, hasta llegar a la fabricación y comercialización de sus productos, donde la amplia y compleja gama de surtidos a suministrar en un contexto adverso para el país, conlleva a utilizar diferentes métodos de gestión de los aprovisionamientos en correspondencia con su destino y frecuencia de uso. De esta manera, se propone dividir las materias primas y materiales a proveer en: 1) insumos de proyectos, que emplean de forma esporádica pequeñas, pero múltiples variedades de mercancías 2) insumos de procesos, que se caracterizan por consumir altos volúmenes de productos, pero poco diversos, como sucede en las actividades de producción. Finalmente, se evalúa la implementación de este procedimiento en una de las entidades biotecnológicas de mayor prestigio en Cuba, el Centro de Inmunología Molecular, demostrando las ventajas y alcance de esta propuesta que permitió elevar la efectividad en la gestión de los aprovisionamientos, y de esta manera la eficiencia empresarial(AU)

The objective of this work is to propose a new methodology for the logistics management of supplies in Cuban biotechnological industries. They work essentially on a full cycle of enterprise performance, from basic research to the manufacture and marketing of new biopharmaceuticals products. The wide and complex range of supply requirements, in an adverse country-wide context, leads to the use of different methods for managing supplies, in accordance with their destination and frequency of use. We propose to divide the supplies and materials into two categories: 1) supplies for projects, for those that are highly varied, used sporadically and in small quantities, 2) process supplies, for those that are regularly used in large volumes -such as manufacture process-, and a relatively small variety of supply types. The implementation of this methodology is assessed in one of the most prestigious biotechnological entities in Cuba, the Molecular Immunology Center. The effectiveness in the management of supplies was increased, and therefore, business efficiency(AU)