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SHARMA SWATI, KUMAR VIJAYL. Hand sanitizer-related calls at the National Poisons Information Centre, India during the lockdown period of the Covid-19 pandemic. THE NATIONAL MEDICAL JOURNAL OF INDIA 2022; 35:159-161. [DOI: 10.25259/nmji-35-3-159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Background
Hand sanitizer (HS) has been increasingly used during the Covid-19 pandemic. We compared the telephonic calls received by the National Poisons Information Centre (NPIC), New Delhi, India, related to its unsafe exposure and inappropriate use during the lockdown and prelockdown periods.
Methods
We analysed and compared telephonic call records of 3 months of pre-lockdown and 3 months of the lockdown and HS-related calls in different age groups and zones during these periods.
Results
The centre received 4000 calls; of these 1583 (40%) were related to household products of which only 63 (4%) were related to HS. There was an 8-fold increase in the number of calls received at the NPIC during the lockdown compared to the pre-lockdown period seeking medical attention following unsafe exposure or inappropriate use of HS. More calls were received from the south and north zones and, in the majority of these cases, HS was ingested accidentally. In some cases, HS was ingested intentionally for suicide during the lockdown.
Conclusions
Our study shows that unsafe exposure of HS is common under conditions of stress as seen during the lockdown period of the Covid-19 pandemic. It should be kept out of reach of small children. Further, providing psychological help and counselling to older age groups under conditions of stress are important issues of concern.
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Schultz KM, Miller PB, Stancill L, DiBiase LM, Ashcroft S, Bybel BA, Gala GJ, Penaskovic KM, Perryman P, Teal L, Weber DJ, Witek D, Zarzar MN, Sickbert-Bennett E. Strategies utilized to prevent and control SARS-CoV-2 transmission in two congregate, psychiatric healthcare settings during the pandemic. Am J Infect Control 2022; 50:536-541. [PMID: 35158012 PMCID: PMC8832849 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2022.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Background The COVID-19 pandemic has had a substantial effect on the delivery of psychiatric health care. Inpatient psychiatric health care facilities have experienced outbreaks of COVID-19, making these areas particularly vulnerable. Methods Our facility used a multidisciplinary approach to implement enhanced infection prevention and control (IPC) interventions in our psychiatric health care areas. Results In a 16-month period during the COVID-19 pandemic, our 2 facilities provided >29,000 patient days of care to 1,807 patients and identified only 47 COVID-19 positive psychiatric health inpatients (47/1,807, or 2.6%). We identified the majority of these cases by testing all patients at admission, preventing subsequent outbreaks. Twenty-one psychiatric health care personnel were identified as COVID+ during the same period, with 90% linked to an exposure other than a known positive case at work. Discussion The IPC interventions we implemented provided multiple layers of safety for our patients and our staff. Ultimately, this resulted in low SARS-CoV-2 infection rates within our facilities. Conclusions Psychiatric health care facilities are uniquely vulnerable to COVID-19 outbreaks because they are congregate units that promote therapeutic interactions in shared spaces. IPC interventions used in acute medical care settings can also work effectively in psychiatric health care, but often require modifications to ensure staff and patient safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine M Schultz
- Department of Infection Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Medical Center, Chapel Hill, NC.
| | - Pamela Blair Miller
- Department of Infection Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Medical Center, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Lisa Stancill
- Department of Infection Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Medical Center, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Lauren M DiBiase
- Department of Infection Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Medical Center, Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina School of Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Shelley Ashcroft
- Department of Inpatient Psychiatry Services, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Medical Center, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Barbara-Ann Bybel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Gary J Gala
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Kenan M Penaskovic
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Paul Perryman
- Department of Inpatient Psychiatry Services, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Medical Center, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Lisa Teal
- Department of Infection Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Medical Center, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - David J Weber
- Department of Infection Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Medical Center, Chapel Hill, NC; Division of Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - David Witek
- Department of Inpatient Psychiatry Services, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Medical Center, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Michael N Zarzar
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC
| | - Emily Sickbert-Bennett
- Department of Infection Prevention, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Medical Center, Chapel Hill, NC; Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina School of Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC
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Pourmand A, Ghassemi M, Frasure SE, Kreisman A, Shesser R. Hand Sanitizer Intoxication in the Emergency Department. Cureus 2021; 13:e17906. [PMID: 34660101 PMCID: PMC8509113 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.17906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Hand hygiene has always been an area of emphasis within the hospital setting, never more so than during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. The consumption of alcohol-containing hand sanitizer products, whether intentional or accidental, often garners attention, particularly since these products may contain methanol. This report describes a case of surreptitious theft and intentional ingestion of the emergency department's (ED) ethanol-based hand sanitizer by a patient who presented to the ED clinically intoxicated with a high ethanol level. When the patient remained clinically intoxicated for more than 18 hours and had a rising serum ethanol level in the ED, clinicians searched his belongings and found several purloined bottles of the ED's hand sanitizer. When confronted, the patient admitted to ingesting hand sanitizer during his ED stay. This case highlights the need for clinicians to be suspicious of intentional ingestion of ethanol-containing products for at-risk patients. Additionally, it demonstrates that measures and protocols should be put in place that minimize the ability for the inappropriate use of these widely accessible products within the hospital.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Pourmand
- Department of Emergency Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington DC, USA
| | - Mateen Ghassemi
- Department of Emergency Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington DC, USA
| | - Sarah E Frasure
- Department of Emergency Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington DC, USA
| | - Alexandrer Kreisman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington DC, USA
| | - Robert Shesser
- Department of Emergency Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington DC, USA
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Study of Morphological Nature of Coronavirus: Causes and Prevention. JOURNAL OF PURE AND APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2020. [DOI: 10.22207/jpam.14.spl1.34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of an unusual Corona virus (COVID-19) flu pandemic starting in China in December 2019, spreading all around the globe is a major threat to public health. The investigations have shown this virus originated from a seafood market in Wuhan. However, the unavailability of medicines for the new disease is a big challenge all around. An attempt has been made in the present article to familiarize about the morphology of the virus. The study of effect of pH, temperature and relative humidity is also depicted. Various preventive measures have also been discussed. The natural dietary measures suggested in the paper would be very beneficial to improve and boost the immunity of the mankind.
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