Outcomes of tracheostomies performed in COVID-19 positive patients at Hospital Central del Estado Chihuahua, Mexico.

OBJECTIVE: Provide a description of clinical characteristics, associated factors and outcome of tracheostomies performed in COVID-19 patients. METHOD: Observational prospective study of 14 patients who underwent tracheostomy. 10 of them were diagnosed with COVID 19, confirmed with RT-PCR test of nasopharyngeal exudate and compatible tomographic findings. RESULTS: Of the 10 patients, five were discharged and five died. The average age of patients who died was 66.6 years; of those who were discharged, it was 60.4 years. Ventilatory parameters cut was taken as FiO2 ≤ 40% and PEEP ≤ 8; of the patients discharged, four met both criteria. On the other hand, of the patients who died, neither met both. Of the latter, an average of APACHE II of 16.4 and SOFA 7.4 were documented, while in discharged patients an average of 12.6 and 4.6 were observed, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Tracheostomy performed in patients with specific criteria, such as low ventilatory parameters, age, or low score in severity scales, may have a better prognosis.

OBJETIVO: Realizar una descripción de las características clínicas, los factores asociados y el desenlace de las traqueostomías realizadas en pacientes con COVID-19. MÉTODO: Estudio retrospectivo observacional de 14 pacientes a quienes se realizó traqueostomía. Diez de ellos se encontraban diagnosticados con COVID-19, confirmada con prueba RT-PCR de exudado nasofaríngeo y hallazgos tomográficos compatibles. RESULTADOS: De los 10 pacientes, cinco fueron dados de alta y cinco fallecieron. La edad promedio de los pacientes que fallecieron fue de 66.6 años, y la de los que fueron dados de alta fue de 60.4 años. De los parámetros ventilatorios, se tomó como corte una FiO2 ≤ 40% y una PEEP ≤ 8; entre los pacientes dados de alta, cuatro cumplían con ambos criterios. En cambio, de los pacientes que fallecieron, ninguno los cumplió. En estos últimos se documentó un promedio de APACHE II de 16.4 y un SOFA de 7.4, mientras que en los pacientes dados de alta se observó un promedio de 12.6 y 4.6, respectivamente. CONCLUSIONES: La traqueostomía realizada en pacientes con criterios específicos, como parámetros ventilatorios bajos, edad o puntuación baja en las escalas de gravedad, pueden llegar a tener mejor pronóstico.

PEP in the city - A new way of delivering post-exposure prophylaxis from the Emergency Department

Introduction: We present our contingency plan for the management of patients presenting to our Emergency Department (ED) requiring HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The pre-COVID pathway relied on patients who needed PEP being dispensed a 5 day supply of PEP. A generic leaflet was included in each PEP pack. This contained a large amount of medical jargon and no contact details for local services. A handwritten fax referral was sent to Genitourinary Medicine (GUM) who would recall the patient for face to face (F2F) review in order to obtain baseline screening and supply an additional 23 days of medication. F2F follow up testing was arranged at 2 weeks and 8-12 weeks post-PEP. Results: An electronic PEP referral was introduced and the ED Clinical Decision Support Guideline (CDGS) was redesigned. Pharmacy was able to supply 28 days of PEP meaning that if a patient was required to self-isolate, they would have an adequate supply of treatment at home. The patient information leaflet was rewritten using simple terminology and details of local GUM services were included. Baseline bloods were taken within ED removing the need for F2F appointments. Upon receipt of the PEP referral, a Health Advisor would call the patient and arrange for confirmatory home testing kits to be sent at the required window period. Patients attending ED who were non-Manchester residents were eligible for the same service thus reducing unnecessary F2F contact at other clinics. 16 patients were successfully referred from ED to GUM between May/June 2020. Discussion: Our new pathway has helped us to substantially mitigate risk for patients requiring PEP via the ED. Following the success of this collaborative project, we have decided to adopt this pathway permanently as we predict demand for PEP will increase as the UK begins to ease lockdown restrictions.

Animal and translational models of SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19.

COVID-19 is causing a major once-in-a-century global pandemic. The scientific and clinical community is in a race to define and develop effective preventions and treatments. The major features of disease are described but clinical trials have been hampered by competing interests, small scale, lack of defined patient cohorts and defined readouts. What is needed now is head-to-head comparison of existing drugs, testing of safety including in the background of predisposing chronic diseases, and the development of new and targeted preventions and treatments. This is most efficiently achieved using representative animal models of primary infection including in the background of chronic disease with validation of findings in primary human cells and tissues. We explore and discuss the diverse animal, cell and tissue models that are being used and developed and collectively recapitulate many critical aspects of disease manifestation in humans to develop and test new preventions and treatments.