Reconstrucción microquirúrgica en pandemia por Covid-19 / MICROSURGICAL RECONSTRUCTION IN THE COVID - 19 PANDEMIC

Introducción: la Pandemia por SARS CoV ­ 2 (COVID ­ 19) tuvo un impacto significativo en el desarrollo de los servicios quirúrgicos en general y obligo a establecer protocolos de actuación para las distintas patologías a fin de cuidar al máximo los recursos humanos y la capacidad instalada de los hospitales para hacer frente a esta contingencia mundial. Objetivos: presentar una casuística de 7 pacientes con reconstrucción microquirúrgica de patología de cabeza y cuello en estadios avanzados y patología de miembros inferiores durante la pandemia por COVID - 19. Materiales y Métodos: trabajo retrospectivo, se revisaron las historias clínicas físicas y digitales. Se incluyeron 5 pacientes con patología avanzada de cabeza y cuello y 2 pacientes con patología de miembros inferiores. Resultados: cinco pacientes fueron operados por patología avanzada de cabeza y cuello: 3 pacientes con carcinomas escamosos de cavidad oral estadio IVa, 1 paciente con carcinoma escamoso de piel avanzado estadio IV y 1 paciente con fractura compleja de maxilar inferior por herida de arma de fuego con fistula oro-cutánea crónica, con exposición del material de osteosíntesis, mala oclusión y pérdida de peso importante por dificultad para alimentación. Dos pacientes fueron operados por patología de miembros inferiores en tercio inferior de pierna, uno por fractura expuesta grave con defecto de tejidos blandos y el otro por una ulcera arterial. Conclusión: la cirugía reconstructiva microquirúrgica puede realizarse con buenos niveles de seguridad para el personal de salud y para los pacientes afectados por patologías avanzadas de cabeza y cuello y otras patologías que requieran colgajos libres. Es fundamental respetar estrictamente los protocolos para evitar los contagios en el medio intrahospitalario, entendiendo que debe considerarse todo paciente que ingrese al hospital como COVID (+) hasta que se demuestre lo contrario

Introduction: the SARS CoV ­ 2 (COVID ­ 19) Pandemic had a significant impact on the development of surgical services in general and forced the establishment of action protocols for the different pathologies in order to take maximum care of human resources and capacity. installed in hospitals to deal with this global contingency. Objectives: to present a casuistry of 7 patients with microsurgical reconstruction of head and neck pathology in advanced stages and lower limb pathology during the COVID - 19 pandemic. Materials and Methods: retrospective work, physical and digital medical records were reviewed. Five patients with advanced head and neck disease and 2 patients with lower limb disease were included. Results: five patients underwent surgery for advanced head and neck disease: 3 patients with stage IVa squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, 1 patient with stage IV advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the skin, and 1 patient with a complex fracture of the lower jaw due to a gunshot wound. with chronic oro-cutaneous fistula, with exposure of the osteosynthesis material, poor occlusion and significant weight loss due to difficulty feeding. Two patients underwent surgery for pathology of the lower limbs in the lower third of the leg, one for a severe open fracture with a soft tissue defect and the other for an arterial ulcer. Conclusion: microsurgical reconstructive surgery can be performed with good levels of safety for health personnel and for patients affected by advanced pathologies of the head and neck and other pathologies that require free flaps. It is essential to strictly respect the protocols to avoid contagion in the hospital environment, understanding that every patient who enters the hospital must be considered as COVID (+) until proven otherwise.

Estresse ocupacional relacionado à pandemia de covid-19: o cotidiano de uma unidade de pronto atendimento / Estrés ocupacional relacionado con la pandemia covid-19: la vida diaria de una unidad de atención de emergencia / Occupational stress related to the covid-19 pandemic: the daily life of an emergency care unit

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar o cotidiano de trabalho dos profissionais de saúde de uma Unidade de Pronto Atendimento (UPA), com ênfase nos estressores ocupacionais relacionados à pandemia de COVID-19. Método: estudo de caso qualitativo, fundamentado no referencial teórico-metodológico de Michel de Certeau acerca do cotidiano, realizado em uma UPA porte II do interior de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Foi realizada triangulação de dados, com observações, entrevistas com 31 profissionais e análise documental. Os dados foram organizados no MAXQDA2020® e submetidos à análise de conteúdo de Bardin. Resultados: o cotidiano da UPA foi alterado pela pandemia e a instituição passou por adaptações para atender os casos suspeitos ou confirmados de COVID-19, com novas estratégias de funcionamento e redefinição do mapa da assistência. Os estressores ocupacionais identificados foram falta de clareza nas informações iniciais sobre a doença, medo de se contaminarem ou a familiares, uso de equipamentos de proteção individual (EPIs), testagem, afastamento e sobrecarga de profissionais, risco de falta de medicamentos e estigmatização dos profissionais de saúde. Por outro lado, disponibilidade de EPIs, queda do número de atendimentos, orientações e treinamentos foram fatores protetores contra o estresse. Ademais, alguns profissionais adotaram táticas para amenizar os estressores decorrentes da pandemia. Conclusão: o cotidiano da UPA foi alterado e o estresse ocupacional relacionado à pandemia acomete profissionais de saúde. Medidas de proteção da saúde mental são necessárias para que possam enfrentar a grave crise sanitária, com vistas à prevenção do sofrimento, melhor qualidade de vida no trabalho e melhores condições laborais e de atendimento aos usuários.

RESUMEN Objetivo: analizar el trabajo diario de los profesionales de la salud en una Unidad de Cuidados de Emergencia (UPA), con énfasis en los estresores ocupacionales relacionados con la pandemia de COVID-19. Método: estudio de caso cualitativo, basado en el marco teórico-metodológico de Michel de Certeau sobre la vida cotidiana, realizado en una UPA tamaño II en el interior de Minas Gerais, Brasil. Se realizó triangulación de datos, con observaciones, entrevistas a 31 profesionales y análisis de documentos. Los datos se organizaron en MAXQDA2020® y sometidos al análisis de contenido de Bardin. Resultados: la vida cotidiana de la UPA fue modificada por la pandemia y la institución fue adaptada para atender casos sospechosos o confirmados de COVID-19, con nuevas estrategias operativas y redefinición del mapa de atención. Los estresores ocupacionales identificados fueron falta de claridad en la información inicial sobre la enfermedad, miedo a contaminarse o de familiares, uso de equipo de protección personal (EPI), pruebas, baja y sobrecarga de profesionales, riesgo de falta de medicación y estigmatización de los profesionales de la salud. Por otro lado, la disponibilidad de EPP, la disminución del número de consultas, la orientación y la formación fueron factores protectores frente al estrés. Además, algunos profesionales adoptaron tácticas para aliviar los factores estresantes resultantes de la pandemia. Conclusión: la vida diaria de la UPA cambió y el estrés laboral relacionado con la pandemia afecta a los profesionales de la salud. Las medidas de protección de la salud mental son necesarias para que puedan afrontar la grave crisis sanitaria, con el fin de prevenir el sufrimiento, mejorar la calidad de vida en el trabajo y mejores condiciones de trabajo y servicio para los usuarios.

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the daily work of health professionals in an Emergency Care Unit (ECU), with an emphasis on occupational stressors related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: qualitative case study, based on Michel de Certeau's theoretical-methodological framework about everyday life, carried out in a ECU size II in the countryside of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Data triangulation was performed, with observations, interviews with 31 professionals and document analysis. Data were organized in MAXQDA2020® and submitted to Bardin's content analysis. Results: the daily life in the ECU was changed by the pandemic and the institution underwent adaptations to attend to suspected or confirmed cases of COVID-19, with new operating strategies and redefinition of the assistance map. The occupational stressors identified were lack of clarity in the initial information about the disease, fear of contaminating themselves or family members, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), testing, removal and overload of professionals, risk of lack of medication and stigmatization of professionals of health. On the other hand, availability of PPE, drop in the number of visits, guidance and training were protective factors against stress. In addition, some professionals have adopted tactics to alleviate the stressors arising from the pandemic. Conclusion: the routine of the ECU has changed and the occupational stress related to the pandemic affects health professionals. Mental health protection measures are necessary so that they can face the serious health crisis, with a view to preventing suffering, better quality of life at work and better working conditions and service to users.

Traqueostomías en pacientes con SARS COV-2 Protocolo de seguridad del equipo de cabeza y cuello / TRACHEOSTOMY IN PATIENTS WITH SARS CoV-2 HEAD AND NECK EQUIPMENT SAFETY PROTOCOL

Introducción: El virus SARS-CoV-2, se presentó en la ciudad de Wuhan, una provincia de Hubei en China, a finales del mes de diciembre de 2019, como un brote de neumonía viral consecuencia de un nuevo tipo de coronavirus B, el cual fue denominado COVID-19; posteriormente, de manera oficial, se declarará al virus como SARS-Cov-2. Los cirujanos de cabeza y cuello realizan traqueostomías en pacientes con COVID-19, lo que supone mayor exposición de aerosolización para estos especialistas. El presente trabajo tiene como finalidad describir la técnica quirúrgica de la traqueostomía abierta con la adecuada protección del equipo de cirugía de cabeza y cuello en los pacientes con SAR-CoV-2-. Métodos: Este estudio se realizó en el Centro Médico Docente la Trinidad, a cargo del servicio de cabeza y cuello. El equipo multidisciplinario estuvo conformado por cirujanos de cabeza y cuello, intensivistas y enfermeros especialistas del área. La traqueostomía fue abierta y fue realizada en los pacientes ingresados en la unidad de cuidados intensivos con resultado positivo de la infección por SARS-CoV-2, en el periodo entre agosto de 2020 a agosto de 2021, previa discusión con el equipo multidisciplinario y con el consentimiento de los familiares del paciente, idealmente, entre el día 15 y 21. Resultados: Se realizaron 14 traqueotomías abiertas, la primera traqueostomía se llevó a cabo el 01/08/2020 y la ultima el 28/08/2021. Todas fueron realizadas en la unidad de terapia intensiva. El personal médico fue el mínimo posible y consto de: Cirujano de cabeza y cuello, primer y segundo ayudante, instrumentista, intensivista, residente de terapia intensiva y enfermera de terapia intensiva. En todos los casos se llevó a cabo la adecuada higiene de manos y colocación del equipo de protección personal. Conclusiones: Mantener a los pacientes relajados durante el procedimiento, desinflar el manguito del tubo endotraqueal y cerrar el circuito previo a la incisión y rápidamente luego de la incisión en tráquea, insertar el traqueostomo y conectar el sistema de circuito cerrado, parece ser una técnica que preserva la seguridad del equipo quirúrgico

Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 virus appeared in the city of Wuhan, a province of Hubei in China, at the end of December 2019, as an outbreak of viral pneumonia because of a new type of coronavirus B, the was called COVID-19; later, officially, the virus will be declared as SARS-Cov-2. Head and neck surgeons perform tracheostomies in patients with CIVD-19, which results in increased aerolization exposure. The present work aims to describe the surgical technique of open tracheostomy with adequate protection of the head and neck surgery team in patients with SAR-CoV-2. Methods: This study was carried out at the La Trinidad Teaching Medical Center, in charge of the head and neck service. The multidisciplinary team was made up of head and neck surgeons, intensivists, and specialist nurses in the area. The technique was open tracheostomy in patients admitted to the intensive care unit with a positive result for SARS-CoV-2 infection, in the period between August 2020 to August 2021, after discussion with the multidisciplinary team and with the consent of the patient's relatives, ideally between the 15th and 21st. Results: 14 open tracheostomies were performed, the first tracheostomy was performed on 01 / 08/2020 and the last one on 08/28/2021. All tracheostomies were performed in the intensive care unit. The medical staff was the minimum possible and consisted of: Head and neck surgeon, first and second assistant, scrub nurse, intensivist, intensive care resident and intensive care nurse. In all cases, proper hand hygiene and placement of personal protective equipment was carried out. Conclusions: Keeping patients relaxed during the procedure, deflating the endotracheal tube cuff, and closing the circuit prior to the incision and quickly after the incision in the trachea and inserting the tracheostoma, connecting the closed-circuit system, seems to be a technique that preserves the safety of the surgical team

El enfrentamiento a la covid-19 en servicios estomatológicos cubanos / Facing COVID-19 in Cuban Dentistry Services

RESUMEN El escenario estomatológico, si no se aplican adecuadamente los protocolos de protección, constituye una importante fuente de infección cruzada entre pacientes y profesionales de la Estomatología. Muchos son los microorganismos involucrados, y a esto se ha incorporado recientemente el SARS-CoV-2. Al tener en cuenta la letalidad mundial de esta enfermedad, es imprescindible reconsiderar si las medidas de bioseguridad establecidas son estrictas y eficaces para evitar su propagación. Fue realizada esta investigación con el objetivo de actualizar información relacionada con la presente pandemia y los modos de actuación que propicien una consulta estomatológica segura en tiempos de COVID-19 (AU).

ABSTRACT The dentistry setting is an important crossed infection source among patients and Dentistry professionals if the protection protocols are not adequately applied. There are many microorganisms involved, and recently SARS-CoV-2 has added to them. When taking into account the worldwide lethality of this disease, it is bare essential reconsidering if the stablished biosafety measures are strict and efficacious to avoid spread. A thematic update was carried out with the aim of updating the information related to current pandemic and the ways of acting propitiating a safe Dentistry consultation in times of COVID-19 (AU).

Physician, Protect Thyself: Why Psychiatrists Should Be Aware of Their Internet Presence and How to Protect Themselves.

ABSTRACT: Modern psychiatric practice requires the use of the Internet, and the current pandemic has accelerated the adoption of technology in clinics. Psychiatrists receive significant education on protecting patient privacy and medical information when using these tools. However, they receive little training regarding protecting their own personal privacy in the Internet era. Private information, often without one's knowledge, is frequently available online and accessible by patients. The work of physicians and psychiatrists creates additional unique vulnerabilities to privacy. Given the essential nature of the Internet in modern clinical practice, physicians should understand how to monitor and protect personal privacy and safety online. We provide advice to minimize vulnerability to a privacy breach, with a focus on areas unique to psychiatrists and psychiatric practice. We review the literature on physician safety online and offer guidance to get started.

Reasons for and barriers to biosafety and biosecurity training in health-related organizations in Africa, Middle East and Central Asia: findings from GIBACHT training needs assessments 2018-2019.

INTRODUCTION: the Global-Partnership-Initiated-Biosecurity-Academia for Controlling Health Threats (GIBACHT) consortium conducts a biosafety and biosecurity training for fellows from Africa, the Middle East and Asia. To achieve a multiplier effect, fellows conduct trainings in their own organizations. It was during such trainings that training needs assessments were done assessing reasons for and barriers to biosafety and biosecurity training. METHODS: this was a cross sectional assessment. Trainings were conducted from April to July 2018 and April to June 2019. In 2018, training needs were explored using a structured tool. Responses were coded using manifest content analysis and key issues identified. In 2019, respondents quantified the identified key issues using a Likert scale. Proportions of those who strongly agreed, agreed, neither agreed nor disagreed, disagreed or strongly disagreed were calculated and results presented in tables and charts. RESULTS: in 2018 and 2019, there were 183 and 191 respondents respectively. About 96% of respondents in 2018 supported training in biosafety and biosecurity citing individual, community and global benefits. Barriers highlighted included governance, financial, human resource, information and infrastructure challenges. In 2019, majority of respondents indicated inadequate guidelines dissemination, lack of financial resources, inadequate personnel, lack of equipped laboratories and lack of instructional materials among major barriers. CONCLUSION: support for biosafety and biosecurity training was high though systemic barriers exist. Improving human resource capacity and provision of instructional materials can be achieved through training programs. However, systemic assessments need to be done before each training as different organizations have different barriers.

Implementation of a Preparedness Program to Address Violent Situations in Healthcare.

Workplace violence is one of the most complex and dangerous occupational hazards facing hospital healthcare workers today. The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommends that all hospitals have a violence prevention program. The purpose of this article is to describe the development and implementation of a preparedness program to address violent situations in healthcare as an essential component of workplace safety. The foundational program elements are leadership involvement, policy development, organization assessment, response personnel deployment, education, data repository and culture shift. A triad leadership from patient safety, security and nursing led the program. Key implementation lessons involved coordination of change within and across multiple sites.

Evaluating the Perceived Efficacy of Randomized Security Measures at Airports.

Both the increase in traveler numbers and the heightened threat posed by terrorism in recent years represent significant challenges to airport security measures. To ensure that a high level of security is maintained, randomized security checks have been proposed as a promising alternative to traditional security approaches. The use of randomized checks means that only a specific number of people are selected for security screening. However, the likely effects of such a change in security procedures on travelers' security perceptions and on the deterrence of criminal activities remain unclear. Thus, the present study examines how varying the percentage of people screened during security checks influences people's security perceptions. In two online experiments, the participants were asked to imagine that they sought to smuggle an explosive dummy past an airport security check. The only information provided was the number of people screened during security checks, which was manipulated between-subjects in the first experiment and within-subjects in the second experiment. The participants then had to rate their security perception (i.e., the perceived likelihood of successfully smuggling the explosive dummy). The findings show that people perceive traditional security checks to be safer than randomized checks, irrespective of whether 90% or 30% of people are screened. Hence, if randomized security checks would indeed be implemented, it would automatically lead to a decreased perception of security. Furthermore, this decreased security perception might lead to an actual reduction in security, as the deterrence of criminal activities could also be reduced.

Descontaminación de vehículos de Emergencia / Decontamination of ambulances

Fecha de actualización: 22 de mayo 2020. Disponer procedimientos para la adecuada descontaminación de los vehículos de emergencias que transportan pacientes.

Role of security guards in Code Black events in medical and surgical settings: A retrospective chart audit.

The prevalence of security guards in health care settings is growing worldwide. There is a need to explore and understand their role and actions to inform policy and training and support least restrictive practices in health care. The aim of this study was to conduct a retrospective chart audit of security guard logs to investigate security guard involvement in Code Blacks, called in emergency situations of personal threats including patient and/or visitor violence, in medical and surgical wards in a large metropolitan health network in South Australia. Security guards attended 1664 Code Blacks (0.63% of admissions) over the 2.5-year study period. Events were more frequently reported in medical than surgical wards. The most common reasons for security guard attendance were patients threatening/harming staff and patients threatening/harming themselves. The most frequent security guard actions were "Attend only/standby," "Physical restraint," and "Patient located and returned to the ward." The most frequent outcomes were physical restraint, chemical restraint, and de-escalation respectively. Results highlight the imperative that health services maintain and increase efforts to support least restrictive practice through policy directives and staff training.

A bit toggling approach for AMBTC tamper detection scheme with high image fidelity.

The existing tamper detection schemes for absolute moment block truncation coding (AMBTC) compressed images are able to detect the tampering. However, the marked image qualities of these schemes can be enhanced, and their authentication methods may fail to detect some special tampering. We propose a secure AMBTC tamper detection scheme that preserves high image fidelity with excellent detectability. In the proposed approach, a bit in bitmaps of AMBTC codes is sequentially toggled to generate a set of authentication codes. The one that causes the least distortion is embedded into the quantization levels with the guidance of a key-generated reference table (RT). Without the correct key, the same reference table cannot be constructed. Therefore, the proposed method is able to detect various kinds of malicious tampering, including those special tampering techniques designed for RT-based authentication schemes. The proposed method not only offers better image quality, but also provides an excellent and satisfactory detectability as compared with previous works.

Automation reliability, human-machine system performance, and operator compliance: A study with airport security screeners supported by automated explosives detection systems for cabin baggage screening.

Using a simulated X-ray screening task, we tested 122 airport security screeners working with the support of explosives detection systems for cabin baggage screening (EDSCB) as low-level automation. EDSCB varied systematically on three automation reliability measures: accuracy, d', and positive predictive value (PPV). Results showed that when unaided performance was high, operator confidence was high, and automation provided only small benefits. When unaided performance was lower, operator confidence was lower, and automation with higher d' provided large benefits. Operator compliance depended on the PPV of automation: We found lower compliance for lower PPV. Automation with a high false alarm rate of 20% and a low PPV of .3 resulted in operators ignoring about one-half of the true automation alarms on difficult targets-a strong cry-wolf effect. Our results suggest that automation reliability described by d' and PPV is more valid than using accuracy alone. When the PPV is below .5, operators should receive clear instructions on how to respond to automation alarms.

Vigilancia epidemiológica de eventos respiratorios inusitados: infección respiratoria aguda por COVID-19 / Epidemiological surveillance of unusual respiratory events acute respiratory infection by COVID-19

El documento contiene lineamientos para fortalecer el sistema de vigilancia en puertos, aeropuerto y puestos fronterizos para detectar oportunamente casos de Covid-19

Prevalence of zolpidem use in France halved after secure prescription pads implementation in 2017: A SNDS database nested cohort study.

Our objective was to quantify the impact on the use of zolpidem of the obligation implemented in France in 2017 to use secure prescription pads to prescribe it. We conducted a cohort study within the French SNDS healthcare database. Patients aged over 18 years of age were considered for inclusion. The number of prevalent users and incident episodes of zolpidem use were compared before the change in law (July 1, 2016 to January 1, 2017) and after (July 1, 2017 to January 1, 2018). A prevalent user was a patient who has been reimbursed for zolpidem at least once. An incident episode of zolpidem use was defined by a first administration of zolpidem without any prior administration within the previous six months. Regarding prevalence of zolpidem users, we observed a decrease from 2.79% (CI95%:2.75-2.83) to 1.48% (1.44-1.51), with a number of patients who stopped taking it after the change in law being approximately 4.3 times higher than the number of patients who started. We observed a negative association between the post-law change period (OR = 0.52 (0.51-0.53)) and the probability of receiving zolpidem, adjusting for sex, aging, low income and chronic disease. We observed a decrease from 183 treatment episodes per 100,000 insured months on average to 79 episodes per 100,000 insured months, with an incidence rate ratio (IRR) equal to 0.43 (0.38-0.49). The use of secure prescription pads seems to have reduced the exposure of the French population to zolpidem.

A systematic review protocol for crime trends facilitated by synthetic biology.

BACKGROUND: When new technologies are developed, it is common for their crime and security implications to be overlooked or given inadequate attention, which can lead to a 'crime harvest'. Potential methods for the criminal exploitation of biotechnology need to be understood to assess their impact, evaluate current policies and interventions and inform the allocation of limited resources efficiently. Recent studies have illustrated some of the security implications of biotechnology, with outcomes of misuse ranging from compromised computers using malware stored in synthesised DNA, infringement of intellectual property on biological matter, synthesis of new threatening viruses, 'genetic genocide,' and the exploitation of food markets with genetically modified crops. However, there exists no synthesis of this information, and no formal quality assessment of the current evidence. This review therefore aims to establish what current and/or predicted crimes have been reported as a result of biotechnology. METHODS: A systematic review will be conducted to identify relevant literature. ProQuest, Web of Science, MEDLINE and USENIX will be searched utilizing a predefined search string, and Backward and Forward searches. Grey literature will be identified by searching the official UK Government website (www.gov.uk) and the Global database of Dissertations and Theses. The review will be conducted by screening title/abstracts followed by full texts, utilising pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Papers will be managed using Eppi-center Reviewer 4 software, and data will be organised using a data extraction table using a descriptive coding tool. A predefined rating system (speculative, experimental or currently occurring) will be used to sort studies, and a thematic synthesis of the results will be presented. DISCUSSION: Despite the concerns raised about the misuse of biotechnology, no previous work has been conducted from a Crime Science perspective to collate and assess the literature. This systematic review aims to identify the types of offending activity facilitated by biotechnology, including synthetic biology and genetic engineering. The objective of the review is to examine whether this offending activity can be prevented by assessing the conditions necessary for the crime events to occur. It is anticipated that evidence generated from this review will guide future research in this area and aid relevant stakeholders to prioritise and allocate limited resources to biotechnology crime prevention. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO CRD42019131685.