Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio and Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio as a Severity Marker in Moderate to Severe COVID-19 Patients

The world is facing COVID-19 pandemic which has created havoc amongst the mankind. It has created huge burden on health care facilities. The COVID-19 disease is caused by a newly emerged mutant of corona virus that is SARS-CoV-2. The virus is highly contagious and infects through respiratory route. It invades the respiratory tract mainly lungs causing coronavirus pneumonia. Patients usually present with fever, non-productive cough, breathlessness, myalgia, fatigue. In severe cases, disease can rapidly progress to ARDS (Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome), septic shock, MODS (Multi-Organ Dysfunction Syndrome). Death may occur due to the complications. Furthermore, early diagnosis of severe cases and early interventions help in decreasing the burden on intensive healthcare facilities. HRCT scans are being used to assess the disease severity and CT score were calculated which was graded as mild, moderate and severe with score 0-8, 9-15 and 16-25 respectively. But this is highly expensive for general population of a developing country like India. Interleukins, D-dimer, ferritin, pro-calcitonin tests have also been used to assess the severity but again they pose a financial constraint for the population. So we needed a basic investigation which could let us assess the severity of disease and prognosis of the patient early for effective and early management of the patient. This might help provide better intensive care management for the patients at early stage and decrease the morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 patients. We have tried to unfold the CBC as prognostic marker for COVID-19 patients.

Effectiveness of training program on awareness among nursing staff, lab technicians and sanitary workers regarding bio-medical waste management in a Tertiary Care Hospital in central India

Background : A serious threat to both general and medical community is the proper collection and proper dumping of the Bio-medical Waste. In India, 1.87 lakh healthcare facilities with 17.01 lakh beds generates 519 tonnes of biomedical waste every day, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). There are Healthcare Facilities (HCF) that still handle and accumulate such wastes inappropriately without understanding its hazardous repercussions on environment and human society. Study is attributed to awareness and negligence related issues. It covers a wide spectrum of information required for Healthcare Facilities (HCF) in regards to modifications in Bio-Medical Waste Management Rules, 2016' (BMWM2016) from year 2016 till November 2019 and rules amended in view of the COVID-19 pandemic. Aim : Effectiveness of Training Program on awareness among Nursing Staff, Lab Technicians and Sanitary Workers regarding Bio-medical Waste management at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Central India. Methodology : Interventional Study will be implicated from September 2020 to December 2022 in Acharya Vinoba Bhave Rural Hospital (AVBRH) Tertiary Care Hospital, Sawangi, Wardha, Central India by the Post Graduate Student. Assessment of awareness will be done by distributing a set of questionnaires and then training the Healthcare Personnel (HCP), regarding Bio-Medical Waste Management based upon direct observation in the workplace. A total of 422 Nurses, Lab Technicians and Sanitary Workers will be enrolled as study participants. The Study participants will be demonstrated regarding proper standards of Bio-Medical Waste management. Expected Outcomes/Results and Conclusion : Data will be analyzed and appropriate statistical tests will contemplate the results of study.