ABSTRACT
Background and Aim: In February 2020, the pandemic phase of CoViD-19 began in Italy. Healthcare workers were at the forefront of care and were immediately exposed to the risk of infection. Aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the health surveillance system on the spread of infections in a health population Materials and Methods: The cases of infection in the period February 2020 - February 2021 were examined, compared to the number of molecular swabs performed on the health personnel of the F. Miulli Regional Hospital, in Acquaviva delle Fonti (BA). Results: A total of 14,133 molecular swabs were performed (on average 1,177 per month), finding 169 positive cases (equal to 1.19% of total swabs), on average 14 cases per month. The program included a schedule for performing swabs based on the level of risk of the healthcare staff. The tracking system put in place by the prevention service made it possible to minimize the spread of the infection. In addition, a continuous training program for operators on the use of personal protective equipment has been established, with random checks on correct use. Discussion: The health surveillance system, through the execution of periodic molecular swabs for all staff, together with the constant use of personal protective equipment, has made it possible to minimize the spread of the infection in the population of health workers with considerable benefits also on the safety level of hospitalized patients.
ABSTRACT
Background: SARS-CoV2 pandemic has led to a profound reorganization of hospitals to accommodate a large number of patients. It was essential in the organization to combine both theneed to make patients and health workers safe and allow normalroutine hospitalization.Materials and Methods: The F. Miulli Regional General Hospitalwith about 600 beds Results: The Hospital has been literally divided in half verticallyso as to create a COVID Unit. On 4 floors, 240 beds have beencreated, completely separate from the rest of the hospital, withdedicated entrances for patients, operators and suppliers. Threededicated elevators have been identified. The 4th and 3th floorswere dedicated to sub-intensive therapy, the first floor to intensivecare, while on the second floor there was the undressing and refreshment area with changing rooms and showers for operators.The dressing procedure instead was arranged in the basementwhich was also equipped with an independent entrance. Accessto the COVID area was via an external tunnel. The organization ofthe 'new' hospital also included two operating rooms and a CTroom dedicated, independent and with dedicated paths. Moreover,an area dedicated to obstetrics was created with a dedicated delivery room. In this way patients and operators were isolated butcould enjoy the same structural standards as the rest of the hospital. The action of all the staff of the health management and theengineers, meant that in a week after the pandemic began, thestructure was ready to welcome patients.Conclusions: The Hospital was in full swing from March 16 to June26 the day the last patient was discharged.
ABSTRACT
Background and Aim of the study: After the outbreak in China,Italy was the first country facing COVID-19 pandemic. The earliestidentified cases in Lombardy at mid-February, 2020 have promptlygiven the idea of a dramatic infection. During the first decade ofMarch the Italian Government introduced drastic measures of social isolation to contain the spread of contagion, to prevent thecollapse of healthcare system, and to reduce deaths. We evaluatedthe geographic differences in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations,and deaths as well as compared to the initial stage of diffusionacross Italian regions.Materials and Methods: We assessed data daily released by Italian Civil Protection Department since February to May, 2020. Wecompared six geographic repartitions of similar population sizeafter the first 1000 cases in each macro-area. Results: Out 227364 patients infected by COVID-19, 32330(14.2%) dead. Time to double infections was initially very short.The northern regions nearest to the epicenter showed the majorpercentage of cases, hospitalizations and fatal events. Conclusions: The COVID 19 infection represents an unexpectedhealth-care challenge. Although the spatial heterogeneity ofCOVID-19 diffusion through Italy, prompt containment measureshave produced positive results, in particular for southern regions.This aspect is due to holographic isolation, delay in spreading thevirus and social restrictions. The adopted strategies by the ItalianGovernment have been relevant to control the unpredictable andpotential fatal evolution of infection in our regions.