Did you say vulnerable populations?

The current new coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of taking into consideration population groups particularly at risk of contracting Covid-19 disease or developing severe forms of the disease. The medical literature, the press and the authorities have thus stepped up the use of the expression <<vulnerable populations>> in recent weeks to refer to it. However, behind this general expression there are diverse but often interdependent realities whose specific consideration and understanding seem essential for the effective management of the epidemic and its health and socioeconomic consequences.Copyright © 2020 Editions Medecine et Hygiene. All rights reserved.

Did you say vulnerable populations?

The current new coronavirus pandemic has highlighted the importance of taking into consideration population groups particularly at risk of contracting Covid-19 disease or developing severe forms of the disease. The medical literature, the press and the authorities have thus stepped up the use of the expression «vulnerable populations» in recent weeks to refer to it. However, behind this general expression there are diverse but often interdependent realities whose specific consideration and understanding seem essential for the effective management of the epidemic and its health and socioeconomic consequences.

[Organization and practice in family medicine: What's new in the 2020 literature ?]

This is a selection of some important studies published in 2020 dealing with several key organization and functioning features of family medicine. This year, two literature reviews are presented. They deal with large-scale interventions to strengthen primary care and the view of interprofessional collaboration by professionals other than physicians. A third article focuses on the link between regular visits to the general practitioner and hospitalizations. Finally, it is impossible to avoid an article related to the COVID-19 pandemic this year! This one synthesizes the potential role of primary care in the response to the pandemic.

Infection prevention and control measures in practices of the Swiss sentinel network during seasonal influenza epidemics.

BACKGROUND: There are limited data on the transmission of influenza in the context of primary care practices, despite the fact that a significant proportion of the population consult their primary care physician for an influenza-like illness every year. AIM: To describe the use of influenza prevention and control methods in private practices of the Swiss sentinel network. METHODS: This online cross-sectional survey collected data about infection prevention and control measures in the 166 private practices of the Swiss sentinel surveillance network during the 2018-2019 influenza season. Questions pertained to the practice setting, infection prevention and control recommendations, influenza vaccination status of the physicians and their staff, adhesion to hand hygiene, and mask wearing. FINDINGS: Among the 122 practices that answered (response rate 73.5%), 90.2% of the responding physicians had been vaccinated themselves, and 46.7% (56/120) estimated that their staff vaccination coverage was >60%, although it was offered to employees in all practices. Most practices (N=68, 55.7%) had no specific recommendations for their staff concerning mask wearing. Most physicians reported washing or disinfecting their hands before examining a patient (N=91, 74.6%), after examination (N=110, 90.2%) and before a medical procedure (N=112, 91.8%). However, this rate was lower for arrival at the practice (N=78, 63.9%) and leaving the practice (N=83, 68.0%). CONCLUSION: Most physicians in the Swiss sentinel surveillance network have been vaccinated themselves. However, the vaccination rates among their staff are low, despite vaccine availability. Hand hygiene measures were also suboptimal. These results warrant further efforts to implement infection prevention and control measures in the ambulatory setting.