Browsing by Author "Van der Zalm, Marieke"

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    Bronchoscopy in children with COVID‐19 : a case series
    (John Wiley & Sons, 2020) Goussard, Pierre; Van Wyk, Lizelle; Burke, Jonathan; Malherbe, Annemie; Retief, Francois; Andronikou, Savvas; Mfingwana, Lunga; Ruttens, Dries; Van der Zalm, Marieke; Dramowski, Angela; Da Costa, Aishah; Rabie, Helena
    Introduction: The coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) era is a challenging time for respiratory teams to protect their patients and staff. COVID‐19 is predominantly transmitted by respiratory droplets; in the clinical setting, aerosol generating procedures pose the greatest risk for COVID‐19 transmission. Bronchoscopy is associated with increased risk of patient‐to‐health care worker transmission, owing to aerosolized viral particles which may be inhaled and also result in environmental contamination of surfaces. Methods: We describe our experience with the use of modified full‐face snorkeling masks for pediatric bronchoscopy procedures in four COVID‐19 infected children when filtering facepieces/respirators were in limited supply. Results: Bronchoscopy was urgently required in four children, and could not be delayed until COVID‐19 test results were available. During the pandemic peak, when respirators were in short supply, modified full‐face snorkel masks (SEAC Libera, SEAC, Italy) were worn by the bronchoscopy team. Each mask was fitted with an O‐ring, adapter, and heat and moisture exchanger filter. To date, there have been no COVID‐19 infections among the bronchoscopy team staff, whereas the overall Hospital staff COVID‐19 prevalence rate has exceeded 13.5% (667/4949). Conclusion: Emergency bronchoscopy procedures on COVID‐19 infected patients or patients with unknown infection status can be safely performed using modified full‐ face snorkel masks.
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    Protecting children in low-income and middle-income countries from COVID-19
    (BMJ, 2020) Ahmed, Salahuddin; Mvalo, Tisungane; Akech, Samuel; Agweyu, Ambrose; Baker, Kevin; Bar-Zeev, Naor; Campbell, Harry; Checkley, William; Chisti, Mohammod Jobayer; Colbourn, Tim; Cunningham, Steve; Duke, Trevor; English, Mike; Falade, Adegoke G.; Fancourt, Nicholas S. S.; Ginsburg, Amy S.; Graham, Hamish R.; Gray, Diane M.; Gupta, Madhu; Hammitt, Laura; Hesseling, Anneke C.; Hooli, Shubhada; Johnson, Abdul-Wahab B. R.; King, Carina; Kirby, Miles A.; Lanata, Claudio F.; Lufesi, Norman; Mackenzie, Grant A.; McCracken, John P.; Moschovis, Peter P.; Nair, Harish; Oviawe, Osawaru; Pomat, William S.; Santosham, Mathuram; Seddon, James A.; Thahane, Lineo Keneuoe; Wahl, Brian; Van der Zalm, Marieke; Verwey, Charl; Yoshida, Lay-Myint; Zar, Heather J.; Howie, Stephen R. C.; McCollum, Eric D.
    A saving grace of the COVID-19 pandemic in high-income and upper middle-income countries has been the relative sparing of children. As the disease spreads across low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), long-standing system vulnerabilities may tragically manifest, and we worry that children will be increasingly impacted, both directly and indirectly. Drawing on our shared child pneumonia experience globally, we highlight these potential impacts on children in LMICs and propose actions for a collective response.