Occupational hazards in anaesthesiology during the COVID-19 pandemic

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the Department of Labor of the United States, the exposure risk for anaesthesiologists working with COVID-19 patients can be classified as high or very high. This is mostly due to fact that the anaesthesiologists work in close contact...

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Main Authors: Magdalena Wujtewicz, Anna Dylczyk-Sommer, Aleksander Aszkiełowicz, Jan Stefaniak, Szymon Zdanowski, Radoslaw Owczuk
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Termedia Publishing House 2020-12-01
Series:Anaesthesiology Intensive Therapy
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.termedia.pl/Occupational-hazards-in-anaesthesiology-during-the-COVID-19-pandemic,118,42746,1,1.html
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author Magdalena Wujtewicz
Anna Dylczyk-Sommer
Aleksander Aszkiełowicz
Jan Stefaniak
Szymon Zdanowski
Radoslaw Owczuk
author_facet Magdalena Wujtewicz
Anna Dylczyk-Sommer
Aleksander Aszkiełowicz
Jan Stefaniak
Szymon Zdanowski
Radoslaw Owczuk
author_sort Magdalena Wujtewicz
collection DOAJ
description According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the Department of Labor of the United States, the exposure risk for anaesthesiologists working with COVID-19 patients can be classified as high or very high. This is mostly due to fact that the anaesthesiologists work in close contact with patients’ airways, and the aerosol-generating nature of some procedures they perform. Fortunately, despite the occupational hazard, the incidence of COVID-19 among anaesthesiologists and intensivists remains relatively low. Current evidence suggests that the majority of SARS-CoV-2 infections in this group were either contracted outside of the work environment or can be attributed to personal protective equipment (PPE) malfunction. This article focuses on different aspects of anaesthesiologists’ safety, risks connected with different clinical scenarios and procedures, issues related to testing and screening, as well as modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for severe illness or from COVID-19. This analysis is accompanied by a review of guidelines dedicated to mitigating said risks. Educating the personnel, introducing appropriate procedures, and proper utilisation of PPE are essential to the safety of all parties involved in hospital care, particularly those with significant exposure risk.
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spelling doaj.art-0abe7094ed5045ec9d66538dd69d3ceb2022-12-21T19:56:24ZengTermedia Publishing HouseAnaesthesiology Intensive Therapy1642-57581731-25312020-12-0152540040810.5114/ait.2020.10184442746Occupational hazards in anaesthesiology during the COVID-19 pandemicMagdalena WujtewiczAnna Dylczyk-SommerAleksander AszkiełowiczJan StefaniakSzymon ZdanowskiRadoslaw OwczukAccording to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration of the Department of Labor of the United States, the exposure risk for anaesthesiologists working with COVID-19 patients can be classified as high or very high. This is mostly due to fact that the anaesthesiologists work in close contact with patients’ airways, and the aerosol-generating nature of some procedures they perform. Fortunately, despite the occupational hazard, the incidence of COVID-19 among anaesthesiologists and intensivists remains relatively low. Current evidence suggests that the majority of SARS-CoV-2 infections in this group were either contracted outside of the work environment or can be attributed to personal protective equipment (PPE) malfunction. This article focuses on different aspects of anaesthesiologists’ safety, risks connected with different clinical scenarios and procedures, issues related to testing and screening, as well as modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for severe illness or from COVID-19. This analysis is accompanied by a review of guidelines dedicated to mitigating said risks. Educating the personnel, introducing appropriate procedures, and proper utilisation of PPE are essential to the safety of all parties involved in hospital care, particularly those with significant exposure risk.https://www.termedia.pl/Occupational-hazards-in-anaesthesiology-during-the-COVID-19-pandemic,118,42746,1,1.htmlcovid-19 sars-cov-2 exposure risk anaesthesiologist.
spellingShingle Magdalena Wujtewicz
Anna Dylczyk-Sommer
Aleksander Aszkiełowicz
Jan Stefaniak
Szymon Zdanowski
Radoslaw Owczuk
Occupational hazards in anaesthesiology during the COVID-19 pandemic
Anaesthesiology Intensive Therapy
covid-19
sars-cov-2
exposure risk
anaesthesiologist.
title Occupational hazards in anaesthesiology during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_full Occupational hazards in anaesthesiology during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_fullStr Occupational hazards in anaesthesiology during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_full_unstemmed Occupational hazards in anaesthesiology during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_short Occupational hazards in anaesthesiology during the COVID-19 pandemic
title_sort occupational hazards in anaesthesiology during the covid 19 pandemic
topic covid-19
sars-cov-2
exposure risk
anaesthesiologist.
url https://www.termedia.pl/Occupational-hazards-in-anaesthesiology-during-the-COVID-19-pandemic,118,42746,1,1.html
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