Challenges of COVID-19 prevention and control: A narrative review

This narrative review aims to highlight some of the factors contributing to challenges faced by many countries in controlling the spread of COVID-19 pandemic that continues to rage around the world,especially after stoppage of official prevention and control activities.A literature search was conducted on PubMed,and Google using search terms“COVID-19”,“challenges”,“prevention”,and“control”in different combinations.COVID-19 prevention and control challenges are related to health-system,vaccines,administration,and society culture.Controlling the spread of COVID-19 necessitates cooperation between community leaders,healthcare professionals,religious leaders,and the public.

Development and application of the standard for infrared intelligent body temperature measurement system in the normalized COVID-19 prevention and control

In the phase of the normalized COVID-19 prevention and control,non-contact temperature measurement is one of the most efficient and convenient methods for initial screening of suspected cases.In the year of 2020 in Wuhan,such non-contact equipment was urgently demanded,standards development in the traditional way cannot satisfy the market needs.So,the research and development of this standard for infrared intelligent body temperature measurement system was carried out in a rapid way.

Practice of Infection Prevention and Control Strategies in Risk Departments during the COVID-19 Epidemic

Objective: To explore the practice and application of infection prevention and control strategies in risk departments during the COVID-19 epidemic, and to formulate the infection prevention and control measures to provide advice and guidance in risk departments. Methods: According to the latest plan of diagnosis and treatment, prevention and control issued by the National Health Commission, expert advice and consensus, combined with the actual situation in our hospital, a series of infection prevention and control measures of COVID-19 in risk department was formulated. Results: During the epidemic period, the prevention and control measures of nine risk departments including emergency operation, anesthesiology, endoscopy center, blood purification center, otolaryngology, stomatology, medical imaging department, medical cosmetology department and pulmonary function room were established from six aspects, including pre-examination and screening, medical technology control, personnel management, personal protection, environmental disinfection, medical waste disposal, etc. Conclusion: During the epidemic period, the infection prevention and control strategy of risk departments is one of the key links to control the spread of the epidemic, and risk departments must pay attention to and strictly implement various infection prevention and control measures.

Combined prevention and treatment measures are essential to control nosocomial infections during the COVID-19 pandemic

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 is a highly contagious positive-sense,single-stranded RNA virus that has rapidly spread worldwide.As of December 17,2023,772838745 confirmed cases including 6988679 deaths have been reported globally.This virus primarily spreads through droplets,airborne transmission,and direct contact.Hospitals harbor a substantial number of confirmed coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)patients and asymptomatic carriers,accompanied by high population density and a larger susceptible population.These factors serve as potential triggers for nosocomial infections,posing a threat during the COVID-19 pandemic.Nosocomial infections occur to varying degrees across different countries worldwide,emphasizing the urgent need for a practical approach to prevent and control the intra-hospital spread of COVID-19.This study primarily concentrated on a novel strategy combining preventive measures with treatment for combating COVID-19 nosocomial infections.It suggests preventive methods,such as vaccination,disinfection,and training of heathcare personnel to curb viral infections.Additionally,it explored therapeutic strategies targeting cellular inflammatory factors and certain new medications for COVID-19 patients.These methods hold promise in rapidly and effectively preventing and controlling nosocomial infections during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide a reliable reference for adopting preventive measures in the future pandemic.

Optimization of COVID-19 prevention and control measures during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics:a model-based study

Background:The continuous mutation of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 has made the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic complicated to predict and posed a severe challenge to the Beijing 2022Winter Olympics and Winter Paralympics held in February and March 2022.Methods:During the preparations for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics,we established a dynamic model with pulsedetection and isolation efect to evaluate the efect of epidemic prevention and control measures such as entry policies,contact reduction,nucleic acid testing,tracking,isolation,and health monitoring in a closed-loop managementenvironment,by simulating the transmission dynamics in assumed scenarios.We also compared the importance ofeach parameter in the combination of intervention measures through sensitivity analysis.Results:At the assumed baseline levels,the peak of the epidemic reached on the 57th day.During the simulationperiod(100 days),13,382 people infected COVID-19.The mean and peak values of hospitalized cases were 2650and 6746,respectively.The simulation and sensitivity analysis showed that:(1)the most important measures to stopCOVID-19 transmission during the event were daily nucleic acid testing,reducing contact among people,and dailyhealth monitoring,with cumulative infections at 0.04%,0.14%,and 14.92%of baseline levels,respectively(2)strictlyimplementing the entry policy and reducing the number of cases entering the closed-loop system could delay thepeak of the epidemic by 9 days and provide time for medical resources to be mobilized;(3)the risk of environmentaltransmission was low.Conclusions:Comprehensive measures under certain scenarios such as reducing contact,nucleic acid testing,health monitoring,and timely tracking and isolation could efectively prevent virus transmission.Our research resultsprovided an important reference for formulating prevention and control measures during the Winter Olympics,andno epidemic spread in the closed-loop during the games indirectly proved the rationality of our research results.

Management strategy of prevention and control of nosocomial infection of COVID-19 in blood purification center

There are many patients in the blood purification center who need maintenance hemodialysis to maintain life. Those patients generally havelow resistance and are easily exposed to coronavirus because they go back and forth the hospital and residence three times a week andclosely contact with family, caregivers, community personnel, people in various means of transportation, medical staff, and other patientsvisiting hospital. Therefore, the blood purification center has become a high‑risk environment for the spread of COVID-19 infection. In viewof this, our center quickly responded to the formulation and implementation of infection prevention and control measures suitable for thecharacteristics of the blood purification center and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) emergency plan for fever and suspectedpatients. According to these measures, we have a positive effect on preventing and controlling nosocomial infection in the blood purificationcenter.

Scientific and targeted prevention and control measures to optimize COVID-19 response

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic,under the strong leadership of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President Xi Jinping,China has made firm decisions to prioritize people's lives and health.Efforts have been made to avoid foreign imported infection and domestic rebound of COVID-19 cases;the“dynamic zero COVID”policy has been executed without wavering;and the prevention and control measures have been optimized and improved in response to changing circumstances,actively responding to the impact caused by multiple waves of COVID-19 surge globally.China has made extraordinary efforts to safeguard people's lives and health.Meanwhile,prevention and control measures were timely updated to coordinate with economic and social development.On November 10,the Standing Committee of the Central Political Bureau held a meeting to discuss the latest situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in China.Twenty measures(referred to as“the 20-point measures”)were officially announced to further optimize the COVID-19 response.The latest prevention and control measures involve the requirements and guidance for isolation at home,high-risk area delineation,nucleic acid testing,international inbound flights and travelers,vaccination rollout,medical resource preparedness,and protection for special places and vulnerable population.

Prevention and control measures to further optimize COVID-19 response

On November 11,2022,the Chinese government released the Scientific and Targeted Prevention and Control Measures to Optimize COVID-19 Response.Since that time,adjusted measures have been implemented throughout China,leading to major shifts in implementation of the national prevention and control strategy.On the basis of the current situation of the epidemic and the evolving SARS-Cov-2 variants,an additional 10 specifications(referred to as“the 10-point measures”)were officially released on December 7,2022,in an effort to further optimize the prevention and control measures.The latest adjustments pertain to the specification of:precise delineation of high-risk areas,nucleic acid testing scheme,isolation and health monitoring,restriction and lifting of high-risk areas,medicine supply,vaccination rollout among older people,health status of key populations,social functioning,and campus response.

Expert consensus on emergency medicine procedure optimization guided by routine prevention and control strategy for COVID-19

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)was declared a global public health emergency on 31 January 2020.Emergency medicine procedures in Emergency Department should be optimized to cope with the current COVID-19 pandemic by providing subspecialty services,reducing the spread of nosocomial infections,and promoting its capabilities to handle emerging diseases.Thus,the Chinese Society of Emergency Medicine and Wuhan Society of Emergency Medicine drafted this consensus together to address concerns of medical staffs who work in Emergency Department.Based on in-depth review of COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment plans,literatures,as well as management approval,this consensus proposes recommendations for improving the rationalization and efficiency of emergency processes,reducing the risk of nosocomial infections,preventing hospital viral transmission,and ensuring patient safety.

Taizhou’s COVID-19 prevention and control experience with telemedicine features

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)has spread rapidly around the world.As of May 30,2020,a total of 84568 confirmed COVID-19 cases have been recorded in China,with a mortality rate of approximately 5.5%.Taizhou is a prefecture-level city in Zhejiang Province.A total of 146 cases were diagnosed in this epidemic,with a fatality rate of 0%.This condition is due to the establishment of an“Internet+”diagnosis and treatment model based on online medical application(APP),telemedicine,WeChat service,and consultation hotline in Taizhou.Taizhou led in opening the“COVID-19 Prevention and Treatment Special Line”in China,which is conducive to pre-hospital screening,suppressing social panic,and clinical support.Hospitals also carried out related online lectures and popularization of science.We summarize Taizhou’s COVID-19 prevention and control experience with telemedicine features,with a view to providing reference for the control of the epidemic at home and abroad.

Prevention and control strategy of COVID-19 in the "Internet +" era

Since December 2019, several cases of coronavirus infected disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been reported in Wuhan City, Hubei Province. COVID-19 has been rapid spread in other provinces of China and abroad. The prevention and control of outbreak is particularly important. Based on the development of network and medical and health resources in the context of the "Internet +" era, this article discusses strategies for the prevention and control of COVID-19 in the "Internet +" era, and provides a reference for the implementation of COVID-19 prevention and control.

The Application of the “3 + 1” Mode in the COVID-19 Epidemic Prevention and Control at the Infection Ward of a Designated Comprehensive Hospital for COVID-19 Treatment

Objective: We assess the application effect of the “3 + 1” mode in the COVID-19 epidemic prevention and control at the infection ward of a designated comprehensive hospital for COVID-19 treatment. Method: Based on the features of the inpatients of the infection ward and their relatives, a “3 + 1” mode for the COVID-19 prevention and control is developed to conform to the demands for epidemic prevention and control and the overall prevention and control scheme of the whole hospital. Here, “3” stands for the epidemic prevention and control system, personnel management, and prevention and control measures;“1” stands for COVID-19 testing. Result: From March 1, 2020 to March 31, 2021, a total of 3056 patients were hospitalized in the three infection wards. Among them, 265 patients had a fever, and 113 patients had respiratory symptoms. None of them were infected with COVID-19. The participation rate of the test about the knowledge related to COVID-19 and the knowledge mastery rate were both 100% among the medical staff. None of the inpatients and their companions or the medical staff was diagnosed with COVID-19. Conclusion: Thus the “3 + 1” mode proves successful for avoiding nosocomial infection and the spread of the epidemic.

The Prevention and Control Measures of COVID-19 in the People’s Hospital of Pingchang County

COVID-19 (COVID-19) or COVID-19 is pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus infection in patients in 2019. COVID-19 pneumonia epidemic is widespread, wide, and deep. To effectively combat the further spread of COVID-19: the overall protocol of the hospital: “three lines of defense” of community prevention and control, fever clinic and face-to-face treatment;grasp the good three-time limits: “2 hours, 12 hours and 24 hours”;do a good job of three key points: key areas and places and groups;carry out four early prevention and control measures: early detection, early reporting, early isolation and early treatment;management of confirmed, suspected, fever, close contact “four types of personnel”;implement l responsibility system;doing all receivable, should be treated, should be checked, should be separated by “four should be”;do investigation, control, supervision, education, and care “five in place”. Through the above methods, the People’s Hospital of Pingchang County has effectively controlled COVID-19.

Plans for Prevention Africa CDC is playing a key role in controlling the spread of COVID-19 on the continent

Africa CDC is playing a key role in controlling the spread of COVID-19 on the continent As COVID-19 spreads across the continent,African countries have adopted many prevention and control measures,such as travel restrictions and border closures.

Diabetes and susceptibility to COVID-19:Risk factors and preventive and therapeutic strategies

Coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)is a highly infectious disease caused by a novel human coronavirus called severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2(SARS-CoV-2).Diabetes is a well-known risk factor for infectious diseases with high prevalence and increased severity.Here,we elucidated the possible factors for the increased vulnerability of diabetic patients to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the more severe COVID-19 illness.The worsened prognosis of patients with both COVID-19 and diabetes may be attributable to host receptor angiotensinconverting enzyme 2-assisted viral uptake.Moreover,insulin resistance is often associated with impaired mucosal and skin barrier integrity,resulting in microbiota dysbiosis,which increases susceptibility to viral infections.It may also be associated with higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines resulting from an impaired immune system in diabetics,inducing a cytokine storm and excessive inflammation.This review describes diabetes mellitus and its complications,explains the risk factors,such as disease characteristics and patient lifestyle,which may contribute to the high susceptibility of diabetic patients to COVID-19,and discusses preventive and therapeutic strategies for COVID-19-positive diabetic patients.

Identifying a competency improvement strategy for infection prevention and control professionals:A rapid systematic review and cluster analysis

Remarkable progress has been made in infection prevention and control(IPC)in many countries,but some gaps emerged in the context of the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemic.Core capabilities such as standard clinical precautions and tracing the source of infection were the focus of IPC in medical institutions during the pandemic.Therefore,the core competences of IPC professionals during the pandemic,and how these contributed to successful prevention and control of the epidemic,should be studied.To investigate,using a systematic review and cluster analysis,fundamental improvements in the competences of infection control and prevention professionals that may be emphasized in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.We searched the PubMed,Embase,Cochrane Library,Web of Science,CNKI,WanFang Data,and CBM databases for original articles exploring core competencies of IPC professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic(from January 1,2020 to February 7,2023).Weiciyun software was used for data extraction and the Donohue formula was followed to distinguish high-frequency technical terms.Cluster analysis was performed using the within-group linkage method and squared Euclidean distance as the metric to determine the priority competencies for development.We identified 46 studies with 29 high-frequency technical terms.The most common term was“infection prevention and control training”(184 times,17.3%),followed by“hand hygiene”(172 times,16.2%).“Infection prevention and control in clinical practice”was the most-reported core competency(367 times,34.5%),followed by“microbiology and surveillance”(292 times,27.5%).Cluster analysis showed two key areas of competence:Category 1(program management and leadership,patient safety and occupational health,education and microbiology and surveillance)and Category 2(IPC in clinical practice).During the COVID-19 pandemic,IPC program management and leadership,microbiology and surveillance,education,patient safety,and occupational health were the most important focus of development and should be given due consideration by IPC professionals.

Prevention program for the COVID-19 in a children’s digestive endoscopy center

The pneumonia caused by the coronavirus disease-2019(COVID-19)outbreak in Wuhan,China constitutes a public health emergency of international concern.The gastrointestinal symptoms of vomiting,diarrhea and abdominal pain and the detection of COVID-19 nucleic acid from fecal specimens in a small number of patients suggest the possibility of transmission via the gastrointestinal tract.People of all ages are vulnerable to this virus,including children.Digestive endoscopy is an invasive procedure during which children cannot wear masks;therefore,they have higher risks of exposure to COVID-19,and the digestive endoscopy center is a relatively high-risk area for COVID-19 infection.Based on these factors and in combination with related policies and regulations,a prevention and control program for the COVID-19 pneumonia in a children's digestive endoscopy center was established to prevent the COVID-19 nosocomial infection.

Infection Prevention Strategy in Operating Room during Coronavirus Disease 2019(COVID-19)Outbreak

A novel coronavirus that emerged in late 2019 rapidly spread around the world.Most severe cases need endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation,and some mild cases may need emergent surgery under general anesthesia.The novel coronavirus was reported to transmit via droplets,contact and natural aerosols from human to human.Therefore,aerosol-producing procedures such as endotracheal intubation and airway suction may put the healthcare providers at high risk of nosocomial infection.Based on recently published articles,this review provides detailed feasible recommendations for primary anesthesiologists on infection prevention in operating room during COVID-19 outbreak.

Lifestyle factors in the prevention of coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)

Confinement to the home and psychological distress due to the coronavirus disease 2019(COVID-19)pandemicmay lead to harmful health behaviors,such as overeating,sedentary behavior with reduced physical activity,elevated alcohol and tobacco use and increased screen time causing impaired sleep.All of these behaviors areassociated with non-communicable diseases and can interfere with immunity.While no foods,single nutrientsor dietary supplements are capable of preventing infection with COVID-19,a balanced diet containing sufficientamounts of macronutrients and diverse micronutrients is a prerequisite of an optimally functioning immunesystem.High-energy“Western”diets and obesity are major risk factors for a more severe course of COVID-19.Alcohol use and tobacco also have detrimental effects on the immune system.Therefore,population-wide bodyweight control,reduction of smoking rates and limitation of alcohol consumption are important preventivemeasures.Furthermore,sufficient restorative sleep is needed for adequate immune functioning.Appropriatelifestyle changes in regard to nutrition,exercise,sleep,smoking and alcohol intake may help shift the populationdistribution of infection risk and aid in preventing severe COVID-19 disease.Large-scale surveys should explorethe effects of lifestyle changes,and the provision of reliable lifestyle information and effective interventions toindividuals and communities during the pandemic is a pressing need.

Discussion on application of food-medicine homologous traditional Chinese medicine in prevention prescriptions for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

From sorting out and statistical analysis of 172 prevention prescriptions for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) put forward by government departments, medical institutions and TCM clinical experts in various provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions, the results showed that food-medicine homologous traditional Chinese medicine (abbreviated as"food-medicine materials") such as honeysuckle, licorice, agastache, tangerine peel, fresh reed rhizome, perilla and platycodon are used most frequently. Combined with TCM theory and modern pharmacology analysis, not only deeper understandin/g of the application value of food-medicine materials, but also reference value of their daily use and development of related products reference in the future is expected to be acquired.