Otoendoscopes to Enhance Telemedicine During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Fluctuations in Pediatric Acute Otitis Media Burden During the First Two COVID-19 Years in Israel

BACKGROUND

To study pediatric acute otitis media (AOM) burden fluctuations before and during the first two COVID years, which were characterized by measures to reduce the spread of airborne diseases. We used urinary tract infection (UTI) as a comparison infection.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study encompassing three pre-COVID years (March 1, 2017-February 29, 2020) and the first two COVID years (March 1, 2020-February 28, 2021, and March 1, 2021-February 28, 2022). Records were retrieved from the Clalit Health Services database, Israel's largest healthcare maintenance organization. Children 0-15 years with AOM and UTI episodes were categorized according to age (1>, 1-4, 5-15 years). We collected demographics, seasonality, AOM complications, antibiotic prescriptions, and recent COVID-19 infections. The average AOM/UTI rates of the three pre-COVID years vs. two COVID years were used to calculate the incidence rate ratios (IRRs).

RESULTS

We identified 1,102,826 AOM and 121,263 UTI episodes. The median age at AOM diagnosis was 2.0 years (IQR, 1.1-4.1). Male predominance, age at presentation, and the dominant age group of 1-4 years did not change during the COVID years. While UTI episode rates decreased during the COVID years (IRR 0.76, 95% CI, 0.68-0.84, P < 0.001), the reduction in AOM episode rates was >2-fold (IRR 0.46, 95% CI, 0.34-0.63, P < 0.001). The largest decrease was observed among children 1-4 years old during the first COVID year (β=-1,938 AOM episodes/100,00 children, 95% CI, -2,038 to -1,912, P < 0.001). Recent COVID-19 infection was associated with low AOM morbidity (IRR 0.05, 95% CI 0.05-0.05, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

AOM burden substantially decreased during the first COVID year but almost reached pre-pandemic levels during the second year.

Diagnostic and surgical innovations in otolaryngology for adult and paediatric patients during the COVID-19 era

During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, otolaryngology has been shown to be a high-risk specialty due to the exposure to aerosol-generating physical examinations, procedures and surgical interventions on the head and neck area, both in adult and paediatric patients. This has prompted the issue of updating the guidelines by International Health Authorities in the Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) field and, at the same time, has stimulated engineers and healthcare professionals to develop new devices and technologies with the aim of reducing the risk of contamination for physicians, nurses and patients.

Methods

A review of the literature published on PubMed, Ovid/Medline and Scopus databases was performed from January 01, 2020 to December 31, 2021.

Results

73 articles were eligible to be included, which were subdivided into 4 categories: ("Artificial Intelligence (AI)"; "Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)"; "Diagnostic tools"; "Surgical tools").

Conclusions

All of the innovations that have been developed during the COVID-19 pandemic have laid the foundation for a radical technological change of society, not only in medicine but also from a social, political and economical points of view that will leave its mark in the coming decades.