ORIENTA COVID-19 app / Aplicativo ORIENTA COVID-19

Objective: Develop an application to guide health professionals during home care in coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The structure of the application was developed in four stages: Analysis - an integrative literature review was carried out with the Health Sciences databases, such as MEDLINE, SciELO, and LILACS. Design - this step involved planning and producing didactic content, defining topics and writing subjects, selecting media, and designing the interface (layout). Development - definition of the navigation structure and planning of the configuration of environments. Implementation - construction of an environment for downloading the application on the Internet. Results: The ORIENTA COVID-19 application has 40 screens and 130 images describing gowning, and undressing of PPE, including using a homemade mask, guidelines for care to prevent COVID-19, and social etiquette. After registration at the National Institute of Industrial Property, it will be available on the Google Play Store under ORIENTA COVID-19. Conclusion: After an integrative review of the literature obtained from the main databases, the ORIENTA COVID-19 application was developed to support health professionals during home care related to COVID-19.

Objetivo: Desenvolver um aplicativo para orientar os profissionais de saúde durante o atendimento domiciliar, no enfrentamento da pandemia da COVID-19. Método: A estrutura do aplicativo foi desenvolvida em quatro etapas: Análise - foi realizada uma revisão integrativa da literatura junto às bases de dados das Ciências da Saúde, como: MEDLINE, SciELO e LILACS. Design - esta etapa envolveu o planejamento e a produção do conteúdo didático, a definição dos tópicos e a redação dos assuntos, a seleção das mídias e o desenho da interface (layout). Desenvolvimento - definição da estrutura de navegação e o planejamento da configuração de ambientes. Implementação - construção de um ambiente para download da aplicação na Internet. Resultados: O aplicativo ORIENTA COVID-19 tem 40 telas e 130 imagens descrevendo a paramentação, desparamentação dos EPIs incluindo a técnica do uso da máscara caseira, orientações dos cuidados para prevenir a COVID-19 e a etiqueta social. Após seu registro no Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial, estará disponível no Google Play Store sob o nome ORIENTA COVID-19. Conclusão: Após revisão integrativa da literatura obtida nas principais bases de dados, desenvolveu-se o aplicativo ORIENTA COVID-19, para apoio aos profissionais da saúde durante o atendimento domiciliar relacionado à COVID-19.

Point prevalence study on the use of antibiotics at a tertiary healthcare institution during the absence of the COVID-19 wave

Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic still continues in waves. In this study, we aimed to identify the antibiotic prescribing approach and inappropriate antibiotic ratio, and to improve antimicrobial stewardship. Material(s) and Method(s): This study is single-center, cross-sectional, and retrospective.We evaluated antibiotic usage using one-day point prevalence. The study was conducted on patients admitted to surgical wards, internal wards and intensive care units. Result(s): Of the study participants, 120 (52%) used antibiotics. Of the patients using antibiotics, 52 (43%) were male, and 68 (57%) were female. Of these patients, 65 (54%) were hospitalized in surgical units, 35 (30%) in internal units, and 20 (16%) in intensive care units. In 77 patient, antibiotics were started correctly and on the spot, and in 43, inappropriate antibiotic use was found. In these patients, 45% of antibiotics were started empirically, 21.7% based on culture, and 33.3% prophylactically. Discussion(s): The misuse of antibiotics, which is one of the most commonly consumed drugs, is a global problem that threatens not only the health of the patient, but also the health of the entire community. When antibiotics are used too much, especially in health institutions, resistant strains may cause selection and spread. Improving antimicrobial prescribing will help control antimicrobial resistance.Copyright © 2023, Derman Medical Publishing. All rights reserved.

Associations between resources and practices of ILD centers and outcomes in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: data from the IPF-PRO Registry.

BACKGROUND: Performance benchmarks for the management of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) have not been established. We used data from the IPF-PRO Registry, an observational registry of patients with IPF managed at sites across the US, to examine associations between the characteristics of the enrolling sites and patient outcomes. METHODS: An online survey was used to collect information on the resources, operations, and self-assessment practices of IPF-PRO Registry sites that enrolled ≥ 10 patients. Site variability in 1-year event rates of clinically relevant outcomes, including death, death or lung transplant, and hospitalization, was assessed. Models were adjusted for differences in patient case mix by adjusting for known predictors of each outcome. We assessed whether site-level heterogeneity existed for each patient-level outcome, and if so, we investigated potential drivers of the heterogeneity. RESULTS: All 27 sites that enrolled ≥ 10 patients returned the questionnaire. Most sites were actively following > 100 patients with IPF (70.4%), had a lung transplant program (66.7%), and had a dedicated ILD nurse leader (77.8%). Substantial heterogeneity was observed in the event rates of clinically relevant outcomes across the sites. After controlling for patient case mix, there were no outcomes for which the site variance component was significantly different from 0, but the p-value for hospitalization was 0.052. Starting/completing an ILD-related quality improvement project in the previous 2 years was associated with a lower risk of hospitalization (HR 0.60 [95% CI 0.44, 0.82]; p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Analyses of data from patients with IPF managed at sites across the US found no site-specific characteristics or practices that were significantly associated with clinically relevant outcomes after adjusting for patient case mix. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01915511. Registered 5 August 2013, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01915511.

Clinical features and outcome of COVID-19 positive children from a tertiary healthcare hospital in Karachi.

: As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continues to evolve, differences in epidemiological and clinical features among pediatrics have been noticed across different countries. We describe the spectrum of COVID-19 in pediatric patients treated in tertiary health care. We conducted a retrospective chart review of pediatric patients admitted to Indus Hospital & Health care network, Korangi campus, Karachi; from April 1st, 2020 to July 31st, 2020. A total of 141 COVID-19 cases were reported, males were 81 (57%) and the median age was 8 (0.3-17) years. Moderate and severe infections were noted in 36(26%), and 17(12%) children respectively. Fever (50%) was the most common clinical feature. The SF ratio less than 264 was significantly associated with severe disease (p < .05). Lab investigations that differed significantly across disease severity groups included IL-6 levels (p < .01) and Prothrombin time (p < .05). Majority of children were advised home isolation 89 (63%), 29 (20.5%) were admitted while mortality was observed in 10 (7%) children. No significant difference was observed between children with and without malignancy. Pre-existing comorbidities are significantly associated with COVID-19 infections among children. Reduced SF ratio, elevated Prothrombin time, and interleukin-6 levels are associated with greater disease severity.

Carrying on with liver transplantation during the COVID-19 emergency: Report from piedmont region.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic is an emergency worldwide. In Italy, liver transplant activity was carried on, but despite all efforts, a 25% reduction of procured organs has already been observed during the first 4 weeks of the outbreak. AIMS: To analyze if our strategy and organization of LT pathway during the first two months of the COVID-19 emergency succeeded in keeping a high level of LT activity, comparing the number of LT in the first two months with the same period of time in 2019. METHODS: We compared the liver transplants performed in our Center between February 24th and April 17th, 2020 with liver transplants performed in the same period in 2019. RESULTS: In 2020, 21 patients underwent liver transplantation from deceased donors, exactly as the year before, without statistically significant difference. All patients survived in both groups, and the rate of early graft dysfunction was 24% in 2020 and 33% in 2019. In 2020 Median MELD was higher (17 vs 13). We were able to perform 3 multiorgan transplants and one acute liver failure. Nobody died on waiting list. The performance of our Center, despite the maxi-emergency situation, was steady and this was the result of a tremendous team working within the hospital and in our region. CONCLUSIONS: Team working allowed our Center to maintain its activity level, taking care of patients before and after liver transplantation. Sharing our experience, we hope to be helpful to other Centers that are facing the pandemic and, if another pandemic comes, to be more prepared to deal with it.