ABSTRACT
Asthma is one of the most prevalent chronic diseases in Spain. In 2019, the Spanish Society of Allergology and Clinical Immunology (SEAIC), the Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians (SEMERGEN), the Spanish Society of Family and Community Medicine (semFYC), the Spanish Society of General and Family Physicians (SEMG) and the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) drafted a document laying down the criteria for referral and action guidelines in the diagnosis, control and monitoring of the asthmatic patient to facilitate ongoing care and improved attention in every setting. The new circumstances derived from the Covid-19 pandemic have demanded that some of the recommendations of the previous edition be updated and adapted to the new healthcare situation. © 2021 Sociedad Española de Neumología y Cirugía Torácica (SEPAR)
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Occupational infection rates for SARS-CoV-2 among health professionals in Spain are high in comparison to other countries. The objective of the study was to describe and analyze the risk factors associated with this transmission. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with non-probabilistic snowball sampling of health professionals (medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, auxiliary care) of different levels of care (primary care, hospital, nursing homes, etc.), who were in contact or not with patients with COVID-19, in June 2020 in Spain. We prepared an electronic survey of 81 questions structured in four blocks: sociodemographic variables, knowledge about COVID-19, availability and use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and environmental protection measures and training received. RESULTS: 855 health workers responded, 81.5% women and the mean age was 44 years (28-68). 93.4% knew the main symptoms but 40.4% did not identify the route of transmission via droplets and contact. 67.5% of them cared for COVID-19 patients without adequate PPE and 29.1% wore the same PPE continuously for more than 4 hours. 25.6% of workers had not received any type of training in donning and removing the PPE and 61.2% of them were unable to previously practice the process. The frequency of coronavirus infection among health professionals was 19.4%, which is higher in those professionals who had not received specific training (25.8 vs 17.2%, p=0.009). CONCLUSION: Training, drafting protocols and screening programs, supervising the situations of greatest risk, ensuring the availability of material and increasing the commitment of health institutions to support health personnel should be implemented as contagion prevention strategies.
Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Female , Health Personnel , Humans , Male , Risk Factors , SARS-CoV-2 , Spain/epidemiologyABSTRACT
The Spanish Society of Pneumonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) has elaborated this document of recommendations for COVID-19 vaccination in patients with respiratory diseases aimed to help healthcare personnel make decisions about how to act in case of COVID-19 vaccination in these patients. The recommendations have been developed by a group of experts in this field after reviewing the materials published up to March 7, 2021, the information provided by different scientific societies, drug agencies and the strategies of the governmental bodies up to this date. We can conclude that COVID-19 vaccines are not only safe and effective, but also prior in vulnerable patients with chronic respiratory diseases. In addition, an active involvement of healthcare professionals, who manage these diseases, in the vaccination strategy is the key to achieve good adherence and high vaccination coverage.
ABSTRACT
SARS-CoV-2 infection can cause a range of respiratory sequelae, especially in patients who have had severe Covid-19 pneumonia. Given the high number of patients who have developed this infection over a short period of time, numerous post-Covid-19 follow-up visits are being carried out, but no clinical follow-up protocol has been established to advise on the complementary tests to be performed and the frequency of these procedures. This consensus document was drawn up by professionals from different areas of the Spanish Society of Pulmonology and Thoracic Surgery (SEPAR) in order to assist the clinician in identifying possible respiratory complications that may occur during the months following the acute disease, and to protocolize their follow-up and additional tests to be performed. It recommends examinations and interventions to be carried out at various stages in the post-Covid-19 period, and details the specific objectives of these procedures. Primarily, we aim to ensure that patients receive timely clinical follow-up, following a pre-established schedule that takes into account the severity of the disease and the likelihood of long-term sequelae. Another objective is to avoid overloading the health system by eschewing examinations and/or consultations that are, in many cases, unnecessary. Finally, we define criteria for referring patients with specific established sequelae (interstitial lung disease, pulmonary vascular disease, bronchiectasis) to the corresponding specialized units.