Pragmatic Recommendations for Infection Prevention and Control Practices for Healthcare Facilities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Cobb, Natalie; Papali, Alfred; Pisani, Luigi; Schultz, Marcus J.; Ferreira, Juliana Carvalho

doi:10.4269/ajtmh.20-1009

Cited by 19 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 70 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The lack of personal protective equipment (PPE), prolonged exposure to patients, and inadequate knowledge of the disease transmission among the healthcare providers may have increased such incidents (49,50). Increased awareness of self-protection, adequate supplies of PPE, and a prompt response may aid in decreased susceptibility of infection among healthcare workers (46,51,52).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19: A Retrospective Multi-Center Study in Pakistan

Ahmad

Beg

Majeed

et al. 2021

Front. Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The emergence of a pathogen responsible for a mysterious respiratory disease was identified in China and later called a novel coronavirus. This disease was named COVID-19. The present study seeks to determine the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in Pakistan. This report will exhibit a linkage between epidemiology and clinical aspects which in turn can be helpful to prevent the transmission of the virus in Pakistan. A retrospective, multiple center study was performed by collecting the data from patients' with their demographics, epidemiological status, history of co-morbid conditions, and clinical manifestations of the disease. The data was collected from 31 public-sector and 2 private hospitals across Pakistan by on-field healthcare workers. A Chi-square test was applied to assess the relationship between categorical data entries. A total of 194 medical records were examined. The median age of these patients was found to be 34 years. A total of 53.6% active cases were present including 41.2% males and 12.4% females till the end of the study. Adults accounted for most of the cases (94.3%) of COVID-19. Fever (86.60%), cough (85.05%), fatigue (36.60%), dyspnea (24.74%), and gastrointestinal discomfort (10.31%) were among the most frequently reported signs and symptoms by the patients. However, 4.12% of the total patient population remained asymptomatic. The median duration of hospital stay was found to be 14 (0–19) days. The earliest source of the spread of the virus may be linked to the foreigners traveling to Pakistan. Spread among men was more as compared to women. A few cases were found to be positive, due to the direct contact with pets or livestock. Hypertension (7.73%), diabetes (4.64%), cardiovascular conditions (2.58%) were the most common co-morbidities. The percentage mortality was 2.50% with the highest mortality among elders.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19: A Retrospective Multi-Center Study in Pakistan

Ahmad

Beg

Majeed

et al. 2021

Front. Public Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Routes of infection can be patient-to-staff, patient-to-patient, and staff-to-staff [ 43 ]. The previous study in Japan reported that the staff-to-staff route accounted for 31% of NIs [ 40 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…HCWs tend to get infected, especially front-line nurses who are regularly in close contact with infected patients whilst administering physical care [ 43 , 46 , 47 ]. According to a previous survey in Japan, 52% of the staff infected were nurses [ 40 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…According to a previous survey in Japan, 52% of the staff infected were nurses [ 40 ]. In the three hospitals in our study, when an infection is found in a ward, the nurses in close contact with the relevant people are isolated immediately, which means that ward duties must be performed on a limited shift, increasing the workload per person [ 18 , 30 , 43 , 45 , 46 , 48 , 49 ]. In addition, when shift changes required support from other departments, the work was unfamiliar as were the new members, which increased stress [ 31 , 49 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In Japan, in particular, 92% of nurses were women in 2018 [ 50 ]. Women are more likely burdened with varied non-professional and family-related burdens, such as anxiety about the spread of infection to family members, sense of guilt about restrictions on family life, and cases where they are forced to leave their jobs due to living with elderly family members, family members with underlying medical conditions, or the fear of stigma [ 31 , 43 , 51 ]. Many nurses managed to overcome the situation by their sense of social mission, but there were more than a few nurses on the verge of burnout [ 31 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Overcoming Current and Preventing Future Nosocomial Outbreaks during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned at Three Hospitals in Japan

Komasawa

Aung

Saito

et al. 2021

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Hospitals are increasingly challenged by nosocomial infection (NI) outbreaks during the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Although standardized guidelines and manuals regarding infection prevention and control (IPC) measures are available worldwide, case-studies conducted at specified hospitals that are required to cope with real settings are limited. In this study, we analyzed three hospitals in Japan where large-scale NI outbreaks occurred for hints on how to prevent NI outbreaks. We reviewed openly available information from each hospital and analyzed it applying a three domain framework: operation management; identification of infection status; and infection control measures. We learned that despite having authorized infection control teams and using existing standardized IPC measures, SARS-CoV-2 may still enter hospitals. Early detection of suspected cases and confirmation by PCR test, carefully dealing with staff-to-staff transmission were the most essential factors to prevent NI outbreaks. It was also suggested that ordinary training on IPC for staff does not always provide enough practical knowledge and skills; in such cases external technical and operational supports are crucial. It is expected that our results will provide insights into preventing NI outbreaks of COVID-19, and contribute to mitigate the damage to health care delivery systems in various countries.

show abstract

Antibiotic resistance and the COVID‐19 pandemic: A dual crisis with complex challenges in LMICs

Gulumbe,

Sahal,

Abdulrahim

et al. 2023

Health Science Reports

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background and AimsAntimicrobial resistance (AMR), a global health crisis of mounting urgency, has been further complicated by the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic. The intricate relationship between these two phenomena is especially pronounced in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs) due to the distinct obstacles encountered by their healthcare systems and policy structures. This study aims to explore the complex challenges arising from the coexistence of these two crises in LMICs and proffer specific recommendations for holistic management.MethodsAn exhaustive bibliographic survey was executed, employing search queries in specialized databases such as PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science's SCI‐EXPANDED index. The timeframe for the literature search extended from January 2020 to January 2023. The search strategy employed key terms including antibiotic resistance, AMR, COVID‐19 pandemic, low‐ and middle‐income countries, SARS‐CoV‐2, and LMICs.ResultsThe pandemic has aggravated various drivers of AMR in LMICs, including limited capabilities, weak frameworks, and socioeconomic factors. New challenges have emerged, such as disruptions in the antibiotic supply chain and an increased risk of healthcare‐associated infections. The interaction between these drivers presents a complex problem that demands a coordinated response. Specific recommendations include strengthening health systems, funding research and innovation, and enhancing infection prevention control measures.ConclusionThe coexistence of AMR and the COVID‐19 pandemic in LMICs demands an integrated approach involving multiple stakeholders. Emphasis must be placed on constructing aligned regulatory frameworks, nurturing regional collaborations, and focusing on accessible therapeutic options. The study underscores the necessity for actionable strategies to achieve sustainable access to clean water and sanitation and also highlights the importance of long‐term planning, funding, and specialized expertise in emerging modalities like phage therapy.

show abstract

Pragmatic Recommendations for Infection Prevention and Control Practices for Healthcare Facilities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Cited by 19 publications

References 70 publications

Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19: A Retrospective Multi-Center Study in Pakistan

Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19: A Retrospective Multi-Center Study in Pakistan

Overcoming Current and Preventing Future Nosocomial Outbreaks during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned at Three Hospitals in Japan

Antibiotic resistance and the COVID‐19 pandemic: A dual crisis with complex challenges in LMICs

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About