Background: This invited short report aims to document the management of trauma and nontrauma ICU patients in one quaternary facility in South Africa during the first two waves of the SARS CoV2 (Covid-19) pandemic in Kwa Zulu-Natal. Content: The setting of the trauma service and the changes made to ensure staff and patient safety are detailed. A brief overview of the clinical experience of caring for both trauma and non-trauma cases is provided along with the management of those cases who were found to be Covid-19 positive. The concerning aspect of increased antibiotic resistance development and the potential roles of antiseptic sanitisers is briefly discussed. Conclusion: Trauma care is essential during the infectious pandemic and there is a risk of increased antibiotic resistance. Doing the basics “right” can prevent staff contamination or adverse patient outcomes. Bangladesh Journal of Medical Science Vol.20(5) 2021 p.72-76

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Background: Trauma is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in young patients, acute surgical conditions cause morbidity and mortality in patients of all ages. Computed tomography scan (CT) assist greatly in the investigation and management of these patients with blunt and penetrating trauma, facilitating early diagnosis and expedites early appropriate treatment of these patients. Acute non-traumatic surgical conditions also mimic non-surgical pathologies and differentiating the two is important because management is different and any delay in surgical intervention results in high morbidity and some may even result in mortality. Method: Literature review of the role of multidetector CT scan (MDCT) in managing acute surgical emergencies and trauma-diagnosis in the trauma patient and patients presenting with acute surgical emergencies. The focus is on the role of the MDCT in the management of these patients. Results highlight that the use of MDCT expedites management of these patients, allowing early surgical intervention and preventing unnecessary surgical interventions where the intervention is not indicated, based on the MDCT results. Conclusion: This paper emphasizes the important role that is played by the MDCT in the management of the above patients.