The Feasibility of an Infection Control “Safe Zone” in a Spinal Cord Injury Unit

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 714-716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keshonna Lones ◽  
Swetha Ramanathan ◽  
Margaret Fitzpatrick ◽  
Jennifer N. Hill ◽  
Marylou Guihan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Healthcare Worker ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Safe Zone ◽  
Infect Control Hosp ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Cord Injury

We report on healthcare worker use of a safe zone (outside a 3-foot perimeter around the patient’s bed) and personal protective equipment in 2 inpatient spinal cord injury/disorder units. Workers remained within the safe zone during 22% of observations but were less compliant with personal protective equipment inside the zone.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;37:714–716

scholarly journals Determining the source of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a healthcare worker

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nasia Safdar ◽  
Gage K. Moreno ◽  
Katarina M. Braun ◽  
Thomas C. Friedrich ◽  
David H. O’Connor
Keyword(s):  
Infection Control ◽  
Healthcare Worker ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Total Population ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Hospital Infection Control ◽  
Risk Of Exposure ◽  
N95 Respirators ◽  
Cumulative Prevalence

BackgroundHealthcare workers (HCWs) are at the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic and are at risk of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 infection from their interactions with patients and in the community (1, 2). Limited availability of recommended personal protective equipment (PPE), in particular N95 respirators, has fueled concerns about whether HCWs are adequately protected from exposure while caring for patients. Understanding the source of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a HCW – the community or the healthcare system – is critical for understanding the effectiveness of hospital infection control and PPE practices. In Dane County, Wisconsin, community prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 is relatively low (cumulative prevalence of ~0.06% – positive cases / total population in Dane county as of April 17). Although SARS-CoV-2 infections in HCWs are often presumed to be acquired during the course of patient care, there are few reports unambiguously identifying the source of acquisition.ObjectiveTo determine the source of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in a healthcare worker.

scholarly journals Spinal cord injury in the United States Army Special Forces

2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-116
Author(s):  
Remi A. Kessler ◽  
Ansh Bhammar ◽  
Nikita Lakomkin ◽  
Raj K. Shrivastava ◽  
Jonathan J. Rasouli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Sperm Count ◽  
Cleveland Clinic ◽  
The United States ◽  
Mount Sinai Hospital ◽  
Body Armor ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Special Forces ◽  
Cord Injury

OBJECTIVESpinal cord injury (SCI) is an area of key interest in military medicine but has not been studied among the US Army Special Forces (SF), the most elite group of US soldiers. SF soldiers make up a disproportionate 60% of all Special Operations casualties. The objective of this study was to better understand SCI incidence in the SF, its mechanisms of acquisition, and potential areas for intervention by addressing key issues pertaining to protective equipment and body armor use.METHODSAn electronic survey questionnaire was formulated with the close collaboration of US board-certified neurosurgeons from the Mount Sinai Hospital and Cleveland Clinic Departments of Neurosurgery, retired military personnel of the SF, and operational staff of the Green Beret Foundation. The survey was sent to approximately 6000 SF soldiers to understand SCI diagnosis and its associations with various health and military variables.RESULTSThe response rate was 8.2%. Among the 492 respondents, 94 (19.1%) self-reported an SCI diagnosis. An airborne operation was the most commonly attributed cause (54.8%). Moreover, 87.1% of SF soldiers reported wearing headgear at the time of injury, but only 36.6% reported wearing body armor, even though body armor use has significantly increased in post-9/11 SF soldiers compared with that in their pre-9/11 counterparts. SCI was significantly associated with traumatic brain injury, arthritis, low sperm count, low testosterone, erectile dysfunction, tinnitus, hyperacusis, sleep apnea, posttraumatic stress disorder, major depressive disorder, and generalized anxiety disorder. Only 16.5% of SF soldiers diagnosed with SCI had been rescued via medical evacuation (medevac) for treatment.CONCLUSIONSA high number of SF soldiers self-reported an SCI diagnosis. Airborne operations landings were the leading cause of SCI, which coincided with warfare tactics employed during the Persian Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and other conflicts. A majority of SCIs occurred while wearing headgear and no body armor, suggesting the need for improvements in protective equipment use and design. The low rate of medevac rescue for these injuries may suggest that medical rescue was not attainable at the time or that certain SCIs were deemed minor at the time of injury.

scholarly journals Influenza infection control guidance for staff caring for veterans with spinal cord injury

2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 264-265
Author(s):  
Viroj Wiwanitkit ◽  
Sara M. Locatelli ◽  
Sherri L. LaVela ◽  
Barry Goldstein
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Spinal Cord Injury ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Influenza Infection ◽  
Cord Injury
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document