COVID-19 exposes vulnerabilities in Russian Caucasus

2020 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Safety Net ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Healthcare Provision ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Employment Patterns

Significance Healthcare provision is poorer than Russia's average, and a dearth of personal protective equipment (PPE) and ventilators has compounded infection rates. Informal and migratory employment patterns exclude many households from safety-net measures designed to mitigate pandemic-related stresses. Impacts Russia's governing Islamic body has proposed re-opening mosques, but only Ingushetia and Chechnya are doing so. Although Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov appears well, reports that he contracted COVID-19 highlight the crisis his removal would cause. A boundary demarcation exercise is being seen in Dagestan as an attempt by Chechnya to grab land while its neighbour is distracted.

scholarly journals Retrospective Study on Personal Protective Equipment During Pandemic Link to Outbreak of Carbpenem-Resistant Enterobacteriace

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (S1) ◽  
pp. s9-s10
Author(s):  
Kenisha Evans ◽  
Jennifer LeRose ◽  
Angela Beatriz Cruz ◽  
Lavina Jabbo ◽  
Teena Chopra
Keyword(s):  
Retrospective Study ◽  
Infection Control ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Horizontal Transmission ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Local Health ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Infection Control Measures ◽  
The Impact

Background: In 2019, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), had cost the lives of >35,000 patients, particularly the most virulent plasmid-mediated New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM). Although healthcare systems normally have strict surveillance and infection control measures for CRE, the rapid emergence of novel SAR-CoV-2 and COVID-19 led to a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) and medical supplies. As a result, routine infection practices, such as contact precautions, were violated. Studies have shown this depletion and shift in resources compromised the control of infections such CRE leading to rising horizontal transmission. Method: A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary healthcare system in Detroit, Michigan, to determine the impact of PPE shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic on NDM infection rates. The following periods were established during 2020 based on PPE availability: (1) pre-PPE shortage (January–June), (2) PPE shortage (July–October), and (3) post-PPE shortage (November–December). Rates of NDM per 10,000 patient days were compared between periods using the Wilcoxon signed rank-sum test. Isolates were confirmed resistant by NDM by molecular typing performed by the Michigan State Health Department. Patient characteristics were gathered by medical chart review and patient interviews by telephone. Results: Overall, the average rate of NDM infections was 1.82 ±1.5 per 10,000 patient days. Rates during the PPE shortage were significantly higher, averaging 3.6 ±1.1 cases per 10,000 patient days (P = .02). During this time, several infections occurred within patients on the same unit and/or patients with same treating team, suggesting possible horizontal transmission. Once PPE stock was replenished and isolation practices were reinstated, NDM infection rates decreased to 0.77 ±1.1 per 10,000 patient days. Conclusion: Control of CRE requires strategic planning with active surveillance, antimicrobial constructs, and infection control measures. The study illustrates that in times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, the burden of effective infection control requires much more multidisciplinary efforts to prevent unintentional lapses in patient safety. A swift response by the state and local health departments at a tertiary-care healthcare center conveyed a positive mitigation of the highest clinical threats and decreased horizontal transmission of disease.Funding: NoDisclosures: None

Study on textile assemblies with aluminized basalt fabrics destined for protective gloves

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 705-719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafal Hrynyk ◽  
Iwona Frydrych
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Radiant Heat ◽  
Performance Level ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Back Side ◽  
Contact Heat ◽  
Protective Gloves ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mechanical Factors ◽  
Heat Requirement

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to check an applicability of aluminized basalt fabrics for production of gloves protecting simultaneously against thermal and mechanical factors. Design/methodology/approach – Six variants of protective gloves were manufactured using two different glove constructions: more simple and cheaper with the anatomical thumb arrangement (model A), and more ergonomic one with so called “distance gussets” (model B). Aluminized basalt fabrics were contained in the back side of all variants and in only one variant of palm side. Then the protective properties against thermal and mechanical factors were measured according to the up-to-date standards. Findings – The fulfillment of contact heat requirement was achieved for all glove variants at 100°C. Application of aluminized basalt fabrics in the glove back side allowed obtaining the fourth performance level in the case of resistance to small metal splashes and assuring the highest protection against the radiant heat and small metal splashes. Fulfillment of standard requirements for all examined mechanical parameters was achieved and significantly higher values than reqired for the highest performance level were registered. Research limitations/implications – The further research including upscalling strategy as well as industrial conditions requirements should be taking into account for basalt textiles development. Moreover functionalization of basalt yarns and fabrics seems to be promising feature. Practical implications – The preliminary utility trials were done and registered results are very promising, shows that this kind of gloves will be cheaper than produced so far and could be used in the glass, welder companies. Social implications – The basalt textiles applied for protective gloves or other personal protective equipment can ensure safety at work for end users operating in mechanical and thermal risk scenarios. Originality/value – Up till now the basalt fabrics have not been recognized as a material for the personal protective equipment, they were used mostly for technical purposes.

scholarly journals Safety model for chest drainage in pandemic by COVID-19

2020 ◽  
Vol 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
ERLON DE AVILA CARVALHO ◽  
MARINA VARELA BRAGA DE OLIVEIRA
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Health Professionals ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Air Leak ◽  
Chest Tubes ◽  
Chest Drainage ◽  
Death Toll

ABSTRACT Over one million cases of the SARS-CoV-2 virus have been confirmed worldwide, with the death toll exceeding 50,000 people. An important issue to be addressed concerns the exposure of health professionals to this new virus. The first reports from Wuhan province, China, described infection rates of up to 29% among healthcare professionals before the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) was fully regulated. There are several protocols on the correct use of PPE during aerosol-generating procedures. However, there is no specific guidance on how to proceed in cases of need for chest tubes in patients with positive COVID-19 active air leak. The objective of this work is to assist surgeons of the most diverse specialties during the chest drainage of a patient with COVID-19 and to avoid a risk of contamination to the professional and the environment.

scholarly journals Supreme emergencies and public accountability: the case of procurement in the UK during the Covid-19 pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Sian ◽  
Stewart Smyth
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Social Implications ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Public Accountability ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Supreme Emergency ◽  
The Uk

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to examine the changed nature of public accountability during a supreme emergency and explore how legal and auditing mechanisms have come to the fore, concluding that misappropriation of public monies is not an inevitable outcome.Design/methodology/approachThe paper explores an illustrative example, the UK government's procurement of personal protective equipment during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic.FindingsIn circumstances of a supreme emergency where parliamentary scrutiny and competitive contract tendering are suspended, other forms of public accountability come to the fore, with civil society actors becoming more evident.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper relies on illustrative examples based on the Westminster model of government. The study advanced the notion of deferred accountability and identifies areas for further study, potentially in different jurisdictions.Social implicationsThe paper highlights the need for a variety of active and engaged civil society actors.Originality/valueThe paper contributes an empirical case to how an account of government behaviour is established. The paper also contributes to a deeper understanding of the nature and role of legal and government audit accountability mechanisms.

Construction companies’ compliance to personal protective equipment on junior staff in Nigeria: issues and solutions

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Ebekozien
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Government Agencies ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Construction Sites ◽  
Safety Measures ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Construction Companies ◽  
Junior Staff ◽  
Monitoring And Enforcement ◽  
The Government

PurposeThe frequent occurrence of hazards, especially on junior staff in developing countries, is a major setback on project delivery. This is because the safety of the construction workers' environment influences their performance. Although a range of literature has addressed safety measures on construction sites, how far is their compliance with personal protective equipment (PPE) on junior staff is yet to receive in-depth studies in Nigeria. Therefore, this study investigated the level of Nigerian construction companies' compliance and proffered possible solutions that intend to improve the implementation of PPE on junior staff.Design/methodology/approachThe data were collected via observation and face-to-face interviews among the selected companies' staff in Lagos and Abuja. The interview is to determine their perceptions regarding compliance with PPE on construction sites.FindingsFindings show that compliance with PPE on junior staff, especially the indigenous construction companies, is poor. This is because monitoring and enforcement are lax by government regulatory agencies. Also, findings show that many international construction companies ensure that junior workers obey site safety measures those mitigate the chance of hazard occurrence during construction as a policy.Research limitations/implicationsThis paper data collection is limited to Abuja and Lagos, and a phenomenology type of qualitative research was employed, but this does not weaken the robustness. Future research is needed to consider adopting a mixed-methods approach.Practical implicationsAs part of this paper's implications, findings recommended that the construction company's safety regulations and policies should be robust and enriched to mitigate site-related hazards via a framework or mechanism, but the government agencies/ministries need to give the enabling direction, strict monitoring and enforcement of PPE on junior staff. This paper intends to stir up the appropriate government authorities for possibly passing the Labour, Safety, Health and Welfare Bill 2012 (updated in 2016) Act into law.Originality/valueThis study demonstrates that the government agencies concern with approval and enforcement of construction site safety needs to reawaken to their responsibilities because of the lax implementation in many sites, especially in indigenous construction sites.

COVID-19 black swan and personal protective equipment (PPE) in Pakistan

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Akhlaq Ahmad ◽  
Muhammad Shoaib ◽  
Farooq Abdullah
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Peer Group ◽  
Social Institutions ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Sources Of Information ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Large Level

PurposeThis paper aimed to examine the sources of information and use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic in the province of Punjab, Pakistan. The COVID-19 pandemic affected at a large level of all social institutions including the healthcare system of the countries.Design/methodology/approachThe study was conducted in Pakistan by using an online survey technique. The rationale to opt for this method was based on the country’s lockdown situations, social distancing and the care of the respondents. A total of 847 individuals from different parts of the Punjab province participated in the study. An attitudinal scale was administered, which consisted of statements to measure (dis)agreement among the individuals on current situations of the COVID-19 pandemic. The ethical considerations and confidentiality of the respondents were opted by describing the purpose of research on the first page of the questionnaire.FindingsThe study findings revealed that peer group, signs and symptoms of COVID-19 pandemic and causes and consequences of COVID-19 pandemic had favourable positive effects on the use of PPE by individuals through the mediation of fear of infection during COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, the study findings were interpreted as per the effects of current situations of COVID-19 on the sources of information and the use of PPE by individuals.Originality/valueThis study focused on an important gap in the research on COVID-19 pandemic in the country in terms of mass media, health practitioners, peer group, fear of infection and use of PPE.

scholarly journals Exploring Online Health Reviews to Monitor COVID-19 Public Health Responses in Alabama State Department of Corrections: Case Example (Preprint)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pamela Valera ◽  
David Carmona ◽  
Sarah Malarkey ◽  
Noah Sinangil ◽  
Madelyn Owens ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Correctional Officers ◽  
Mortality Rates ◽  
Correctional Facilities ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Infection Rates ◽  
Prison Staff ◽  
Department Of Corrections ◽  
Returning Citizens ◽  
Health Review

BACKGROUND COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has devastated incarcerated people throughout the United States. OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to test the feasibility and acceptability of a COVID-19 Health Review for Correctional Facilities. METHODS The COVID-19 Health Review survey for the Department of Corrections was developed in Qualtrics to assess the following: (1) COVID-19 testing, (2) providing personal protective equipment, (3) vaccination procedures, (4) quarantine procedures, (5) COVID-19 mortality rates for inmates, (6) COVID-19 mortality rates for correctional officers and prison staff, (7) COVID-19 infection rates for inmates, (8) COVID-19 infection rates for correctional officers and prison staff, and (9) uptake of COVID-19 vaccines. The estimated time to review the Alabama State Department of Corrections COVID-19 responses on their website and complete the survey items was 45 minutes to 1 hour. RESULTS Of the 21 participants who completed the COVID-19 Health Review for Correctional Facilities survey, 48% (n=10) identified as female, 43% (n=9) identified as male, and 10% (n=2) identified as transgender. For race, 29% (n=6) self-identified as Black or African American, 24% (n=5) Asian, 24% (n=5) White, 5% (n=1) Pacific Islander or Native Hawaiian, and 19% (n=4) Other. In addition, 5 respondents self-identified as returning citizens. For COVID-19 review questions, the majority concluded that information on personal protective equipment was “poor” and “very poor,” information on COVID-19 testing was “fair” and above, information on COVID-19 death/infection rates between inmates and staff was “good” and “very good,” and information on vaccinations was “good” and “very good.” There was a significant difference observed (<i>P</i>=.03) between nonreturning citizens and returning citizens regarding the health grade review with respect to available information on COVID-19 infection rates. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 health reviews may provide an opportunity for the public to review the COVID-19 responses in correctional settings.

Public assessments of police during the COVID-19 pandemic: the effects of procedural justice and personal protective equipment

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Sandrin ◽  
Rylan Simpson
Keyword(s):  
Procedural Justice ◽  
Personal Protective Equipment ◽  
Design Methodology ◽  
Public Perceptions ◽  
Protective Equipment ◽  
Societal Change ◽  
Regression Analyses ◽  
Content Type ◽  
And Performance ◽  
Practical Implications

PurposeThe COVID-19 pandemic has presented many challenges for contemporary police. The present research examines public assessments of police responsibility and performance during the pandemic using a procedural justice paradigm.Design/methodology/approachParticipants (N = 104) rated images of a police officer, including when using different items of personal protective equipment (PPE), along the core dimensions of procedural justice. Participants then completed survey questions about their assessments of the police’s responsibility and performance during the COVID-19 pandemic.FindingsFindings from our regression analyses indicate that participants’ perceptions of procedural justice are positively related to their assessments of police responsibility and performance. Our findings also indicate that participants’ perceptions of procedural justice can be affected by the police’s use of different items of PPE, including face masks, face shields, goggles and medical gloves.Originality/valueThe present research uses procedural justice, a well-trodden paradigm from past empirical works, to examine perceptions of police amidst a time of much societal change. The findings present important practical implications for police who must continue to manage public perceptions while providing service during the pandemic.

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