Haroon Waqar-Uddin explores the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on ICUs, with particular emphasis on infection prevention and control, and the evolution of personal protective equipment (PPE) in response to nosocomial infection.
In this article, Haroon Waqar-Uddin explores the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on intensive care units (ICUs), with particular emphasis on infection prevention and control, and the evolution of personal protective equipment (PPE) in response to nosocomial infection with COVID, as well as transmission of other hospital acquired infections.
Intensive care units (ICUs) have been particularly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in a multitude of ways – the most obvious being the huge increase in capacity, variously termed ‘escalation’, ‘the surge’ and latterly ‘the super-surge.’ However, with this increased capacity comes a number of challenges.
The spotlight has repeatedly been shone on ‘Aerosol Generating Procedures’ (AGPs) as being high-risk activities for viral transmission to healthcare providers. Indeed, at the start of the pandemic, ICUs and HDUs were being referred to as ‘the Hot Zone.’ These AGPs include endotracheal intubation, bronchoscopy and percutaneous trachesotomy – all of which are routine in the intensive care environment. In addition, the use of nasal high flow and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices fall under the umbrella of AGPs
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