Evidence-Based Practice on Controlling Infection Due to Covid 19
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Evidence-Based Practice on Controlling Infection Due to Covid 19
Covid-19 is a flu like illness that is transmitted through air droplets and aerosols. Due to this, the disease’s spreading rate is high, leading to an increase in infection. The disease is deadly and causes extensive damage to the respiratory organs leading to serious health complications and even death. Ideally, the disease has caused a massive number of deaths within a short timeline, and therefore, there is a greater need to develop a preventive measure for proper containment.
Evidence-Based Question
Can administrative control and use of protective gears prevent Covid 19 infection?
Development and Implementation of Search Strategy
The covid-19 disease infects people of all ages and gender. The disease affects the respiratory organs of an individual, causing breathing difficulties. However, the disease can be managed primarily through administrative measures and protective gear. These controlled measures have been tested and found useful in maintaining the disease. Therefore, three scholarly articles will be reviewed to explain the extent of the control measures’ effectiveness.
Literature review
The covid-19 disease can effectively be controlled by using protective gear as well as administrative controls. Using protective gear involves Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) that involves a face mask, eye protection, gown, and gloves. Additionally, administrative controls include maintaining social distances, quarantine, and mass communication. (Rafeemanesh, Ahmadi & Mamerzadeh, 2020).
PPEs have proved to be instrumental in protecting medical staff in hospitals handling Covid 19 infections and other personnel who operate in high covid 19 risk zones. Notably, when PPE is correctly used, then the risk of transmission is low. In Wuhan, China, the origin of covid 19 diseases, wearing the mask, has become a norm and has reduced the virus, with very few reported (Odor et al.,2020). However, wearing of mask alone is not enough to control the virus as the droplets and aerosols can leak into the respiratory tracts of persons with masks. The world health organization (WHO) advised country states to avoid using face masks on individuals not infected, causing more infections.
Additionally, WHO directed that only patients who have contracted the virus to be allowed to put on the face mask to avoid spreading to other people (World Health Organization, 2020). Nevertheless, it was established that to protect the marginalized population, wearing a face mask coupled with other control measures was crucial in controlling the virus. Significantly, washing hands with clean water and maintaining social distances will help prevent the virus’s spread to the broader community.
Subsequently, it has been established that the most common way of transmission of the virus is through aerosols and droplet inhalation. Therefore, it is critical for health care personnel to have the correct PPE. It has been noted that most nurses have a zero chance of contracting the virus when in full gear of the PPE (Rafeemanesh, Ahmadi & Mamerzadeh, 2020).
. However, health care practitioners have contracted the virus even when using the PPE. It has been established health workers who have been infected with the virus is due to their negligence and failure to adhere to the Covid 19 safety measures (Bignamini et al., 2020). Meaningfully,has led to an increase in the novel coronavirus cases s most of these health care workers infect their families. It has been established that a surgical face mask is not effective in controlling the virus’s spread in a setup that involves handling Covid 19 patients (World Health Organization., 2020). In this case, respirators are sufficient to be used to offer protection more efficiently against the virus intrusion into the respiratory system. Indeed, the respirators help prevent infection from the virus by forming a tight seal around the mouth and the nose.
Maintaining a significant amount of space between individuals helps in reducing the infection rate of the disease. According to Rafeemanesh, Ahmadi & Mamerzadeh, 2020, reducing the number of personnel in their workplace and implementing online working strategies has proved to reduce the number of infections. Moreover, by April 15, 2020, China had recorded 82295 confirmed cases and 3342 confirmed deaths (Bignamini et al., 2020). This situation led the Chinese government to react. It imposed social distance measures and the introduction of quarantine facilities to curb the spread and control of the disease. This consideration significantly reduced the number of infections in China and the fatalities when other countries, especially in Europe and the USA, had the virus out of control. Ideally, the virus in China could have been devastating if it not been for the imposition of strict social distancing and patients (World Health Organization, 2020). In most countries, especially in Europe, the virus had spread rapidly during April, June, and July. Hence, measures were put in place to minimize contact between people. This decision led to a reduction of cases compared to when these measures were not put in place.
Meanwhile, a longitudinal ecological study from Hong Kong carried out before and after the introduction of personal space enhancement suggested that there was a reduction in the spread of the virus (Rafeemanesh, Ahmadi & Mamerzadeh, 2020). Ideally, it implies that keeping social distance and isolation is more effective in controlling the virus than other measures. Notably, European nations like Italy, which ignored maintaining emotional distance, experienced the virus’s worst impact.
Quarantine is another administrative measure designed to reduce the spread of the Covid 19 virus. According to Rafeemanesh, Ahmadi & Mamerzadeh, 2020, insufficient certainty evidence indicates that quarantine of patients infected with the virus prevented 44% to 81% of the cases and 31% and 63% deaths compared with situations of no measures. This figure illustrates that quarantine is the most efficient measure of preventing the spread of the novel coronavirus. Ideally, the sooner the quarantine is imposed, the lesser the infection rate and the lower the population being infected. Also, quarantine imposition is the most convenient way of controlling the virus’s spread than other practices. Notably, individuals suspected of having contracted the virus are subjected to a mandatory 14 days quarantine where they are isolated until they prove no sign of the disease.
Community awareness of the virus is vital in controlling the novel coronavirus. It has been established that high confidence evidence showed that communication about the virus is essential in controlling the rate of infection (World Health Organization, 2020). When people are made aware of the disease’s spread and the prevention guidelines, it becomes easier to control the disease. The old are more vulnerable and most affected by the disease due to their weaker immune system. Making people aware of this fact will help reduce the number of fatalities and reduce the infection rate.
Type of Study Design and Data Collection Method
The type of study design portrayed in this study is a non-experimental study. Significantly, the study is purely based on observation of phenomena and is descriptive because it describes a population or a situation under study. Meanwhile, the method of data collection is qualitative. Meaningfully, the qualitative method deals with descriptions that cannot easily be measured but can be observed.
Discussion
Controlling Covid-19 has proved to be difficult, with many resources being used to manage the virus. The use of PPE by the medical practitioners and other relevant users has proved to be effective in preventing the virus’s spread. It has been established that using PPE correctly can prevent the spread of the virus. This practice has enhanced its credibility, and users are assured of their safety from Covid-19 infection. However, poor handling of the PPE can lead to the contraction of the virus. Ideally, the PPE is very expensive and is only accessible to the few who are financially able. This scenario will expose the larger population that is unable to purchase the tool to the virus. Meaningfully, the PPE is not readily available. Therefore, this will limit the personnel who are in urgent need of it. This situation will hinder operations, especially in hospitals where the equipment must be used.
Elsewhere, social distancing has tremendously helped in controlling and preventing the spread and infection of the disease. The coronavirus is spread through droplets into the respiratory organs and aerosols. By maintaining social distance, the chances of contracting the virus are negligible. Notably, with the reduction of China cases to a considerable number of infections, social distance one of the main contributors to this fact. Therefore, social distance is a proven method of controlling the virus and, subsequently, reducing infections.
Conversely, many individuals can easily ignore this practice because it’s a social responsibility, and there are no restrictions (Hyun et al., 2020). This negligence can result in an outbreak and mass infection of people. This situation will further lead to an increase in fatalities and deaths.
The imposition of quarantine has been established to be the most effective way of controlling the virus (. Individuals suspected of contracting the virus are subjected to a mandatory quarantine until they are confirmed to be cynical of the disease. This consideration has led to proper containment of the disease and prevents further spread. Also, the practice has been proved to be effective and has been recommended everywhere in the world. For instance, all travelers, especially by planes, are usually subjected to this practice.
Nevertheless, individuals subjected to quarantine facilities feel stigmatized and become depressed. Most people who come from such facilities feel they are mistreated. Additionally, some quarantine facilities are not conducive enough and can lead to the spread of the disease among the facility people. This occurrence will lead to further spread of the disease leading to an increase in cases and deaths.
Communication with the public concerning the disease’s preventive and control measures is a significant contributing factor in containing the disease. Moreover, disseminating information will allow proper preparedness for handling the disease. Meaningfully, the information will help the public know the various means of preventing the virus and acting accordingly. Above all, management and containment of the virus are because of general information regarding the nature of the disease (Hyun et al., 2020). Having said this, many people have been disregarding information regarding prevention measures. For instance, most European countries were warned against ignoring such measures. This scenario led to widespread of the disease in most of these countries, causing severe fatalities.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Covid-19 is a dangerous and life-threatening disease that has already claimed more than half a million lives worldwide. Therefore, it is imperative to follow strict guidelines directed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and other health bodies. Notably, it is upon every individual’s responsibility to adhere to these Covid-19 guidelines to ensure the safety of their families and everyone.
References
Rafeemanesh, E., Ahmadi, F., & Memarzadeh, M. (2020). A Review of the Strategies and Studies on the Prevention and Control of the New Coronavirus in Workplaces. The Archives of Bone and Joint Surgery, 8(Covid-19 Special Issue), 242-246
Bignamini, E., Cazzato, S., Cutrera, R., Ferrante, G., La Grutta, S., Licari, A., … & Santamaria, F. (2020). Italian pediatric respiratory society recommendations on pediatric pulmonary function testing during COVID-19 pandemic. Italian Journal of Pediatrics, 46(1), 1-3.
World Health Organization. (2020). Considerations for community hand hygiene practices in low-resource situations.
Hyun, J., You, S., Sohn, S., Kim, S. J., Bae, J., Baik, M., … & Jeong, C. (2020). Psychosocial Support during the COVID-19 Outbreak in Korea: Activities of Multidisciplinary Mental Health Professionals. Journal of Korean Medical Science, 35(22).