ABSTRACT
Health and disease have been conceived as problems of urban space throughout history, and public health interventions have repeatedly been employed as spatial strategies. Critical perspectives have already utilized this special relation: Urban health is often a showcase for modes of biopolitics. We follow this example, investigating the current rearticulation of public health in the aftermath of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. We draw together the German debate on health in the post-pandemic city, both in the general media and in planning literature, using a discourse-analytical method and find that two contrasting narratives emerge. The urban is considered either as the expression of pathogenic spatial density or as the site of healthy social interactions. While each narrative prefigures a very different mode of intervention, both encourage a spatialization of health, with powerful implications. Distinguishing the competing rationales thus allows better decisions on ways to promote health in the city.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: During the second COVID-19 wave, two clinical pharmacists (CP) joined one of the COVID ward of the institution. They provided their expertise to the nursing staff from different departments of the institution. We present here their experience. Material and method: Clinical pharmacists took part in the daily healthcare transmissions. Then they intervened on medical or paramedical request. Data was extracted from their activity report. The satisfaction of the team was also evaluated anonymously. Results: Clinical pharmacists intervened for 82% of patients, mainly to advise non-specialist doctors on management of the COVID patients. Medication reconciliation at admission and discharge, carried out for respectively 45% and 30% of patients, contributed to the link between community medicine and hospital. The clinical pharmacists quickly integrated to the healthcare team, who was very satisfied with the help they provided. Conclusion: This experience highlights the added value of clinical pharmacy for the management of COVID patients. It improves the caregivers' quality of life at work, particularly in a context of health crisis, when habits are disrupted and the workload high.
ABSTRACT
Context: During the first cycle of pharmacy studies, the community pharmacy internship aims to allow all students to apply, in real situation, knowledge acquired during coordinated teaching on most important pathologies and main therapeutic classes. The objective of this paper is to describe a module deployed during the first period of containment against COVID 19. Methods: We present the remote pharmaceutical interview grid developed with Partner patients, as well as the items classes used for the evaluation of the device. Results-Discussion: The technical feasibility proved to be acceptable;the pre-existing pedagogical format remained robust through the remote exercise;the module tested looks like a "hybrid" format, thanks to the interaction with a partner who is both a pedagogical partner and a left-pointing-double-angle real right-pointing-double-angle patient. Conclusion: This module is complementary to the pre-existing face-to-face format deployed in the classroom.
ABSTRACT
Non-SARS coronaviruses (HCoVs) contribute substantially to seasonal common colds. Their structural homology with SARS-CoV-2 suggests a possible cross-reactivity and cross-protection. The presence of IgG to the most common HCoVs (NL63, 229E, OC43, HKU1) in correlation with RBD-specific IgG and IgA, and the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection was evaluated in 48 individuals with recently diagnosed moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection (A, n=24) or intensive exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (B, n=24). Anti-S1 IgG for each of the four HCoVs, alongside with RBD-IgG and RBD-IgA were evaluated using ELISA (Creative Diagnostics, USA;Euroimmune, Germany). RBD-specific IgG and IgA were detected in 37% and 71% of group A (average levels 8.5 and 6.8) and 42% and 29% of group B (average levels 3.4 and 4.6 respectively, p < 0.05). IgG specific for NL63, 229E, and OC43 was present in 100.0%, and for HKU-1 - in 94% of tested samples (average index 7.4, 3.9, 4.1, and 2.6, respectively). The levels of IgG to NL63 and 229E did not differ significantly between the groups (7.6 vs.7.2;3.7 vs. 4.1, p > 0.05), nor did correlate with anti-SARS-CoV-2 response. HKU-1-specific IgG was significantly decreased in COVID-19 patients (A) as compared to SARS-CoV-2 resistant donors (B): 1.98vs.3.2, p < 0.01. Curiously, OC43-specific IgG was lower in the group with intensive exposure to SARS-CoV-2 (3.5vs.4.7, p < 0.01), and correlated with RBD-specific IgA (R=0.42, p < 0.05). IgG to seasonal coronaviruses is commonly detected, but only HKU-1-specific IgG was associated with resistance to SARS-CoV-2 infection. OC43-specific IgG may be induced simultaneously with RBD-specific IgA and interfere with SARS-CoV-2 neutralization.
ABSTRACT
This special issue includes 10 articles that discuss SARS-CoV-2 genetic diversity;heterologous prime boost COVID 19 vaccination;pros and cons of vaccinating children;progress in treatment of immunocompromised COVID-19 patients;pharmacovigilance for COVID-19 vaccines;attitudes of French adults toward COVID-19 vaccination;attitudes of healthcare professionals toward the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in France.
ABSTRACT
Background: People who belong to the high-risk group are exposed to develop a more severe course of the coronavirus disease and have an increased risk of death if they are infected by COVID-19. To limit the spread of COVID-19 among the population, situationally appropriate regulations are enforced that change the way people live their daily lives. Background: How does the high-risk group deal with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the participatory research of their everyday organization, concerns and own health resources, are the focus of this study. Material and methods: The photovoice method was used in an online format to analyze the living environment of the high-risk group. In this context three online workshops were conducted. Seven high-risk patients affected by different chronic diseases describe with pictures and stories what COVID-19 means to them and what they are grateful for in this exceptional situation. The recruitment was done by personal contact of the research team with potential participants. Results: The co-researchers have formulated nine stories expressing their feelings of gratitude towards the healthcare system and their social environment. The question of a social stigmatization of persons with underlying diseases is critically reflected. The high-risk patients act in a health-competent way, consciously apply personal health resources, such as social contacts or health-promoting daily routines, to avoid negative consequences on their health and to increase their well-being. Discussion: The co-researchers show a health-competent lifestyle and are able to influence their well-being in a positive way;however, there are indications that the long-term approach to vulnerable communities needs to be discussed, especially concerning discrimination processes and a needs-based health care.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted Europe, resulting in a high caseload and deaths that varied by country. The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic has breached the borders of Europe. Public health surveillance is necessary to inform policy and guide leaders. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to provide advanced surveillance metrics for COVID-19 transmission that account for weekly shifts in the pandemic, speed, acceleration, jerk, and persistence, to better understand countries at risk for explosive growth and those that are managing the pandemic effectively. METHODS: We performed a longitudinal trend analysis and extracted 62 days of COVID-19 data from public health registries. We used an empirical difference equation to measure the daily number of cases in Europe as a function of the prior number of cases, the level of testing, and weekly shift variables based on a dynamic panel model that was estimated using the generalized method of moments approach by implementing the Arellano-Bond estimator in R. RESULTS: New COVID-19 cases slightly decreased from 158,741 (week 1, January 4-10, 2021) to 152,064 (week 2, January 11-17, 2021), and cumulative cases increased from 22,507,271 (week 1) to 23,890,761 (week 2), with a weekly increase of 1,383,490 between January 10 and January 17. France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom had the largest 7-day moving averages for new cases during week 1. During week 2, the 7-day moving average for France and Spain increased. From week 1 to week 2, the speed decreased (37.72 to 33.02 per 100,000), acceleration decreased (0.39 to -0.16 per 100,000), and jerk increased (-1.30 to 1.37 per 100,000). CONCLUSIONS: The United Kingdom, Spain, and Portugal, in particular, are at risk for a rapid expansion in COVID-19 transmission. An examination of the European region suggests that there was a decrease in the COVID-19 caseload between January 4 and January 17, 2021. Unfortunately, the rates of jerk, which were negative for Europe at the beginning of the month, reversed course and became positive, despite decreases in speed and acceleration. Finally, the 7-day persistence rate was higher during week 2 than during week 1. These measures indicate that the second wave of the pandemic may be subsiding, but some countries remain at risk for new outbreaks and increased transmission in the absence of rapid policy responses.