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Background: Post-COVID conditions are a wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems employees can experience more than four weeks after first being infected with the COVID-19 virus. Long term complications of COVID drastically affects the productivity of working population. Objective(s): A cluster of employees with COVID-19 infection were successively intervened at TATA Motors, Jamshedpur. We aimed to reduce the post COVID complications amongst infected employees thereby reducing the morbidity and improving the productivity at workplace. Method(s): Employees with COVID-19 (confirmed by RAT/ CBNAAT or RT-PCR) were retrospectively enrolled. Based on various international guidelines, Post COVID functional status Scale and Post-COVID Mental Stress Assessment Scale were developed and introduced amongst target population. Employees with poor functional status Scale score (with score 3 and 4) were undergone mandatory preventive health checks (including physical, systemic, radiology/pathology examination). Employees with high mental stress score (with score 15 and above) were undergone psychiatric evaluation. Follow up assessment was done after six months. Result(s): 590 employees who got diagnosed COVID Positive between March 11, 2021, and June 9, 2021, were retrospectively enrolled. Universal sampling method was used for subject selection. The cohort included 519 (88%) men and 71 (12%) women, and the mean age was 45 5 years. The mean number of employees with poor functional status score (score 3 and 4) was 48 (8.1%). The mean number of employees with moderate mental stress score (score 10 to 14) was 27 (4.5%) and severe mental stress score (score 15 to 19) was 11 (1.8%). Employees with history of hospitalization (for more than 3 days) predominantly got diagnosed with poor functional and mental stress score (46 out of total 158 hospitalizations). At the end of six months interventions, around 42 (87%) employees got migrated from poor score category to mild category. The prevalence of major chronic systemic illnesses (3 cases of chronic Cardiac disease, 2 cases of Chronic Respiratory issues and 2 cases of psychiatry illnesses) remained below national prevalence. Conclusion(s): Preventive health interventions are really effective in achieving the prevalence of Post COVID morbidities amongst employees below the average national prevalence. Repeated medical follow up after first and six months of infection ensured better physical and mental wellbeing of employees improving their productivity at workplace. .
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Objectives: The objective of this study was to study the clinical presentation and infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in health-care workers (HCWs) diagnosed with COVID-19 in a Dedicated COVID Hospital (DCH). Materials and Methods: It was a prospective cohort study of HCWs in a DCH. The new cases found in HCWs from December 1, 2020, to January 31, 2021, were interviewed and followed up for 1 month. The study was part of an international multicenter study by the World Health Organization (WHO). The doctors, nurses, housekeeping, and other staff working in this DCH were considered as HCWs. WANTAI severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 Ab ELISA provided by the WHO was used for qualitative testing antibody (IgM + IgG). Paired serology samples from cases were collected for serology testing - comprising one baseline serum sample taken during week 1 and another taken in the 6th week. Results: Out of the 1340 HCWs, 25 HCWs (including 15 doctors) developed COVID-19 in 60 days. Most (17, 68%) of the HCWs were from the age group of 21 to 30 years. All the HCWs reported receiving training in IPC. Most (21, 84%) of the HCWs reported following hand hygiene always, as recommended. Most (22, 88%) of the HCWs reported being using recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) always, as recommended. The duration of hospital stay was 10 & PLUSMN;3.6 days (mean & PLUSMN;standard deviation) and the range was 4-18 days. There was no significant difference between infection prevention and control practices of doctors and other HCWs. In our study, all the patients had mild disease and the antibody titer was positive in 7 (28%) patients in the 1st week of illness and in 20 (80%) patients in the 6th week of illness. The most common symptoms were respiratory symptoms (60%), sore throat (52%), fever (48%), cough (44%), and joint ache (20%). Two (8%) HCWs were asymptomatic. Conclusion: The incidence of COVID-19 among HCWs can be kept low by proper IPC measures such as availability of PPE and training of HCWs in IPC.
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OBJECTIVES: To study the risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection in health care workers (HCWs) exposed to COVID-19 patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This was a nested case-control study of health care workers(HCWs) in a Dedicated COVID Hospital(DCH). The data collection was done from Dec 2020 to Feb 2021. The study was part of an international multicenter study by the World Health Organisation (WHO). 2 The Doctors, nurses, housekeeping staff, clerks, and other staff working in this DCH were considered as HCWs. HCWs working in this DCH with confirmed COVID-19 were recruited as cases and other HCWs working in this DCH in the same Ward/ICU/office without infection were recruited as controls (incidence density sampling). Three controls were taken per case. The questions were in the Likert scale. RESULTS: There were 25 cases and their 75 controls. There was no significant difference between cases and controls with respect to age, sex, occupation, education, and comorbidities and all controls were negative for antibodies at the time of the interview. Most (70%) of the HCWs were doctor by profession followed by nurses (19%). All HCWs were trained in IPC (infection Prevention and Control). Most (96%) HCWs reported that PPE (personal protective equipment) is available in sufficient quantity. There was no significant difference between cases and controls with respect to those having direct contact with the patient's materials, surroundings, and following hand hygiene. CONCLUSION: Adequate availability of PPE, IPC training of HCWs are important for preventing COVID-19 but do not completely reduce risk among HCWs.
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The recent pandemic due to Corona virus more popularly known as COVID 19 has reassessed the usefulness of historic convalescent plasma transfusion. (CPT) The CPT is one of the promising therapies in the current pandemic situation. This review was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of CPT therapy in COVID 19 patients based on the publications reported till date. PubMed, EMBASE and Medline databases were screened up to 30 April 2021. All the records were screened as per the protocol eligibility criteria. The main features of the studies reviewed were, convalescent plasma can reduce mortality in severely ill patients, an increase in neutralizing antibodies titre and disappearance of SARS CoV 2 RNA was observed in all the patients on CPT therapy and over all a beneficial effect on clinical symptoms after administration of CP. Based on the review findings and the limited scientific data, CPT therapy in COVID 19 patients appear safe, clinically effective and reduces mortality. However, the need of a multicentre clinical trials, unequivocal proof of efficacy, effectiveness and the need for the standardisation of the CPT needs to be addressed immediately for the full utilisation of potential of CPT.
ABSTRACT
Objectives: To study the risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection in health care workers (HCWs) exposed to COVID-19 patients. Material and Methods: This was a nested case-control study of health care workers(HCWs) in a Dedicated COVID Hospital(DCH). The data collection was done from Dec 2020 to Feb 2021. The study was part of an international multicenter study by the World Health Organisation (WHO).2 The Doctors, nurses, housekeeping staff, clerks, and other staff working in this DCH were considered as HCWs. HCWs working in this DCH with confirmed COVID-19 were recruited as cases and other HCWs working in this DCH in the same Ward/ICU/office without infection were recruited as controls (incidence density sampling). Three controls were taken per case. The questions were in the Likert scale. Results: There were 25 cases and their 75 controls. There was no significant difference between cases and controls with respect to age, sex, occupation, education, and comorbidities and all controls were negative for antibodies at the time of the interview. Most (70%) of the HCWs were doctor by profession followed by nurses (19%). All HCWs were trained in IPC (infection Prevention and Control). Most (96%) HCWs reported that PPE (personal protective equipment) is available in sufficient quantity. There was no significant difference between cases and controls with respect to those having direct contact with the patient's materials, surroundings, and following hand hygiene. Conclusion: Adequate availability of PPE, IPC training of HCWs are important for preventing COVID-19 but do not completely reduce risk among HCWs. © 2021 Journal of Association of Physicians of India. All rights reserved.
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There has been a severe setback towards the sustainability in textiles and clothing sector due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 global pandemic. There has been a loss of momentum towards sustainable textile production, and also the 3R’s (Reduce, Recycle and Reuse) have taken a back seat. This brings into line the zero-waste hierarchy concept for a circular economy by taking specific initiatives like rethink/refuse/redesign, implementing 3R's, composting, material and chemical recovery, etc. The outbreak of COVID-19 has forced the textile sector to focus on developments that will enhance human beings’ protection by producing antiviral clothing materials such as personal protective gears like private protective suits, masks, hand gloves, etc. This personal protective equipment (PPE) has generated a waste mountain of PPE worldwide and has created havoc in terms of sustainability. This chapter will emphasise the impact on sustainability in terms of textiles and clothing industries in detail. It will contribute towards cleaner production and sustainability in the textile sector because of COVID-19 by taking a step towards the opportunities for change in textile processes as per the laws. In addressing these inquiries, we use a structure for analysing sustainability and the textile and garments sector, featuring the chances and difficulties for a sustainable change concerning design, production, utilisation and end-of-life. This chapter's primary concern is to identify whether the ongoing pandemic will support the sustainability evolution concerning the textile and clothing sector. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.