Presentation, clinical course and complications in trauma patients with concomitant COVID-19 infection.

BACKGROUND: This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 infection on hospitalized trauma patients. METHODS: A retrospective review of hospitalized trauma patients at a level I trauma center was performed from March-December 2020. Data pertaining to patient demographics, presentation and hospital course was compared between COVID positive and negative trauma patients. RESULTS: There were 4,912 patients and 179 (3.64%) were COVID-19 positive. Demographics and clinical presentation did not differ significantly between those with and without concomitant COVID-19. However, COVID positive trauma patients had higher rates of acute kidney injury (p = 0.016), sepsis (p = 0.016), unplanned intubation (p = 0.002) and unplanned return to the ICU (p = 0.01). The COVID positive cohort also had longer hospital stays (p < 0.01) with no significant difference in mortality. CONCLUSIONS: In the setting of an ongoing pandemic, awareness of the complications COVID positive trauma patients are predisposed to is important for providers.

[SARS-CoV-2: recommendations on nursing care for dialyzed and transplanted patient]

Coronavirus disease 2019 is an infectious respiratory syndrome caused by the virus called SARS-CoV-2, belonging to the family of coronaviruses. The first ever cases were detected during the 2019-2020 pandemic. Coronaviruses can cause a common cold or more serious diseases such as Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndromes (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). They can cause respiratory, lung and gastrointestinal infections with a mild to severe course, sometimes causing the death of the infected person. This new strain has no previous identifiers and its epidemic potential is strongly associated with the absence of immune response/reactivity and immunological memory in the world population, which has never been in contact with this strain before. Most at risk are the elderly, people with pre-existing diseases and/or immunodepressed, dialyzed and transplanted patients, pregnant women, people with debilitating chronic diseases. They are advised to avoid contacts with other people, unless strictly necessary, and to stay away from crowded places, also observing scrupulously the recommendations of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità. In this article we detail the recommendations that must be followed by the nursing care staff when dealing with chronic kidney disease patients in dialysis or with kidney transplant patients. We delve into the procedures that are absolutely essential in this context: social distancing of at least one meter, use of PPI, proper dressing and undressing procedures, frequent hand washing and use of gloves, and finally the increase of dedicated and appropriately trained health personnel on ward.