Importance of wearing a mask continuously and appropriately regardless of the COVID 19 symptoms. Lessons from different mask-wearing styles among two healthcare personnel

ABSTRACT The anecdotal report describes two examples of COVID-19-positive healthcare professionals (HCPs) who had worked as nurses during pre-symptomatic period and subsequently presented a mild clinical course of COVID-19. The nurses' responsibilities were almost the same and worked in the general ward with no aerosol generating medical procedures. Two HCPs were expected to have similar infectiousness, but the number of secondary transmission by each HCP were different. Eleven close contacts from HCP1 were notified, and all of them tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. However, 13 of 35 close contacts of HCP2 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. While working, mask-wearing style differed between the two HCPs. HCP1 wore a KF94 mask appropriately and kept wearing it while working.HCP2 wore a surgical mask while working, but often pulled it down to her chin or removed it. It was strongly suspected that the difference of mask wearing contributed to the SARS-CoV-2 transmission. However, other factors such as talkative behavior, exposure time, ventilation in rooms, and hand hygiene performance rates, could also have affected the transmission of COVID-19.It is crucial that healthcare workers wear a mask adequately and continuously, and they maintain proper hand hygiene while working during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Effects on ocular discomfort and tear film dynamics of suturing 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomies / Efeito da sutura da vitrectomia via pars plana de calibre 23 no desconforto ocular e na dinâmica do filme lacrimal

ABSTRACT Purpose: To evaluate the effects of suturing 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomies on ocular discomfort and tear film dynamics. Methods: This retrospective chart review involved data from 50 procedures in 50 patients who underwent 23-gauge pars plana vitrectomy from January to November 2016. We divided the eyes into two groups according to the presence or absence of sutures; 35 eyes underwent sutureless vitrectomies (Group 1), and 15 eyes underwent vitrectomy with at least one sclerotomy suture site (Group 2). In each group, we assessed objective variables including tear film break-up time, Schirmer test I, corneal surface grading with Oxford system, and a quantitative method evaluating subjective dry eye symptoms using ocular surface disease index questionnaires preoperatively 1 week, and 1 and 3 months after surgery. Results: The tear film break-up time showed a significant difference at the 3-months follow-up (p=0.026). The Schirmer test I and corneal surface staining score showed no statistically significant differences between two groups at any time after the operations. The ocular surface disease index score was significantly lower in Group 1 than in Group 2 at 1 week (p=0.032), 1 month (p=0.026), and 3 months (p=0.041) after the operation. Conclusion: Sclerotomy suturing caused ocular discomfort and had a negative effect on tear film dynamics during the late postoperative period. Sclerotomies without suturing seem to reduce the ocular surface changes.

RESUMO Objetivo: Avaliar os efeitos da sutura da vitrectomia via pars plana de 23-gauge sobre o desconforto ocular e a dinâmica do filme lacrimal. Métodos: Esta revisão retrospectiva de prontuários envolveu dados de 50 casos em 50 pacientes submetidos à vitrectomia via pars plana de 23-gauge, de janeiro a novembro de 2016. Dividimos os olhos em dois grupos de acordo com a presença ou ausência de suturas; 35 olhos foram submetidos à vitrectomia sem sutura (Grupo 1) e 15 olhos foram submetidos à vitrectomia com pelo menos um ponto de sutura no local da esclerotomia (Grupo 2). Em cada grupo, avaliamos variáveis objetivas incluindo tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal, teste de Schirmer I, gradação da superfície corneana com o sistema Oxford e um método quantitativo avaliando sintomas subjetivos de olho seco usando questionários de índice de doença da superfície ocular nos períodos: 1 semana do pré-operatório, 1 mês e 3 meses após a cirurgia. Resultados: O tempo de ruptura do filme lacrimal apresentou diferença significativa no seguimento de 3 meses (p=0,026). O teste de Schirmer I e o escore da coloração da superfície da córnea não mostraram diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os dois grupos em nenhum momento após as operações. O escore do índice de doença da superfície ocular foi significativamente menor no Grupo 1 em relação ao Grupo 2 no período de 1 semana (p=0,032), 1 mês (p=0,026) e 3 meses (p=0,041) após a cirurgia. Conclusão: A sutura da esclerotomia causou desconforto ocular e teve um efeito negativo na dinâmica do filme lacrimal durante o período pós-operatório. Esclerotomias sem sutura parecem reduzir as alterações da superfície ocular.