Iberoamerican Journal of Medicine
https://app.periodikos.com.br/journal/iberoamericanjm/article/doi/10.5281/zenodo.3987277
Iberoamerican Journal of Medicine
Review

The ongoing battle against COVID-19

Qurratulain Hyder, Khawaja Husnain Haider

Downloads: 4
Views: 1361

Abstract

After spillover from Wuhan (China) in December, 2019, SARS-CoV-2 related respiratory disease (COVID-19) has rapidly affected all countries. The pandemic has posed a serious threat to world health resources. At present, there is no recommended treatment or vaccine for SARS-CoV-2. However, various drug combinations are under trial. Reversion to general principles of prevention is the preferred strategy under such circumstances. We discuss the importance of wearing a face mask and present a cost-effective approach for long-term management of COVID-19.

Keywords

COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Face mask; Pandemic; Protection

References

1. Long C, Xu H, Shen Q, Zhang X, Fan B, Wang C, et al. Diagnosis of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): rRT-PCR or CT? Eur J Radiol. 2020;126:108961. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2020.108961.
2. Kampf G, Todt D, Pfaender S, Steinmann E. Persistence of coronaviruses on inanimate surfaces and their inactivation with biocidal agents. J Hosp Infect. 2020;104(3):246-51. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2020.01.022.
3. Fogarty H, Townsend L, Ni Cheallaigh C, Bergin C, Martin‐Loeches I, Browne P, et al. COVID19 coagulopathy in Caucasian patients. Br J Haematol. 2020;189(6):1044-9. doi: 10.1111/bjh.16749.
4. Gu J, Han B, Wang J. COVID-19: Gastrointestinal Manifestations and Potential Fecal-Oral Transmission. Gastroenterology. 2020;158(6):1518-9. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.02.054.
5. Cheng MP, Papenburg J, Desjardins M, Kanjilal S, Quach C, Libman M, et al. Diagnostic Testing for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Related Coronavirus 2: A Narrative Review. Ann Intern Med. 2020;172(11):726-34. doi: 10.7326/M20-1301.
6. Patel R, Babady E, Theel ES, Storch GA, Pinsky BA, George KS, et al. Report from the American Society for Microbiology COVID-19 International Summit, 23 March 2020: Value of Diagnostic Testing for SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19. mBio. 2020;11(2):e00722-20. doi: 10.1128/mBio.00722-20.
7. Wikramaratna P, Paton RS, Ghafari M, Lourenco J. Estimating false-negative detection rate of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR. medRxiv 2020.04.05.20053355; doi: 10.1101/2020.04.05.20053355.
8. Rismanbaf A, Zarei S. Liver and Kidney Injuries in COVID-19 and Their Effects on Drug Therapy; a Letter to Editor. Arch Acad Emerg Med. 2020;8(1):e17.
9. MacIntyre CR, Seale H, Dung TC, Hien NT, Nga PT, Chughtai AA, et al. A cluster randomised trial of cloth masks compared with medical masks in healthcare workers. BMJ Open. 2015;5(4):e006577. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006577.
10. Bartoszko JJ, Farooqi MAM, Alhazzani W, Loeb M. Medical masks vs N95 respirators for preventing COVID-19 in healthcare workers: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized trials. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2020;14(4):365-73. doi: 10.1111/irv.12745.
11. Leung NH, Chu DK, Shiu EY, Chan KH, McDevitt JJ, Hau BJ, et al. Respiratory virus shedding in exhaled breath and efficacy of face masks. Nat Med. 2020;26(5):676-80. doi: 10.1038/s41591-020-0843-2.
12. Degesys NF, Wang RC, Kwan E, Fahimi J, Noble JA, Raven MC. Correlation Between N95 Extended Use and Reuse and Fit Failure in an Emergency Department. JAMA. 2020;324(1):94-6. doi: 10.1001/jama.2020.9843.
13. Fathizadeh H, Maroufi P, Momen-Heravi M, Dao S, Köse Ş, Ganbarov K, et al. rotection and disinfection policies against SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19). Infez Med. 2020;28(2):185-91.
14. Liu X, Zhang S. COVID-19: Face masks and human-to-human transmission. Influenza Other Respir Viruses. 2020;14(4):472-3. doi: 10.1111/irv.12740.
15. Yao M, Zhang L, Ma J, Zhou L. On airborne transmission and control of SARS-Cov-2. Sci Total Environ. 2020;731:139178. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139178.
16. Hamzavi IH, Lyons AB, Kohli I, Narla S, Parks-Miller A, Gelfand JM, et al. Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation: Possible method for respirator disinfection to facilitate reuse during the COVID-19 pandemic. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2020;82(6):1511-2. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2020.03.085.
17. Sunjaya AP, Jenkins C. Rationale for universal face masks in public against COVID-19. Respirology. 2020;25(7):678-9. doi: 10.1111/resp.13834.
18. Bae S, Kim MC, Kim JY, Cha HH, Lim JS, Jung J, et al. Effectiveness of Surgical and Cotton Masks in Blocking SARS-CoV-2: A Controlled Comparison in 4 Patients. Ann Intern Med. 2020;173(1):W22-W23. doi: 10.7326/M20-1342.
19. Radonovich LJ, Simberkoff MS, Bessesen MT, Brown AC, Cummings DA, Gaydos CA, et al. N95 Respirators vs Medical Masks for Preventing Influenza Among Health Care Personnel: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2019;322(9):824-33. doi: 10.1001/jama.2019.11645.
20. Kumar J, Katto MS, Siddiqui AA, Sahito B, Jamil M, Rasheed N, et al. Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices of Healthcare Workers Regarding the Use of Face Mask to Limit the Spread of the New Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). Cureus. 2020;12(4):e7737. doi: 10.7759/cureus.7737.
21. Kim MN. What Type of Face Mask Is Appropriate for Everyone-Mask-Wearing Policy amidst COVID-19 Pandemic? J Korean Med Sci. 2020;35(20):e186. doi: 10.3346/jkms.2020.35.e186.
22. Lepelletier D, Grandbastien B, Romano-Bertrand S, Aho S, Chidiac C, Géhanno JF, et al. What face mask for what use in the context of COVID-19 pandemic? The French guidelines. J Hosp Infect. 2020;105(3):414-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2020.04.036.
23. Ferioli M, Cisternino C, Leo V, Pisani L, Palange P, Nava S. Protecting healthcare workers from SARS-CoV-2 infection: practical indications. Eur Respir Rev. 2020;29(155):200068. doi: 10.1183/16000617.0068-2020.
24. Liang M, Gao L, Cheng C, Zhou Q, Uy JP, Heiner K, et al. Efficacy of face mask in preventing respiratory virus transmission: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Travel Med Infect Dis. 2020;101751. doi: 10.1016/j.tmaid.2020.101751.
25. Wada K, Oka-Ezoe K, Smith DR. Wearing face masks in public during the influenza season may reflect other positive hygiene practices in Japan. BMC Public Health. 2012;12:1065. doi: 10.1186/1471-2458-12-1065.
26. Cheng KK, Lam TH, Leung CC. Wearing face masks in the community during the COVID-19 pandemic: altruism and solidarity. Lancet. 2020;S0140-6736(20)30918-1. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30918-1.
27. Haider K, Hyder Q. Combating 2019-nCoV Amidst the Pandemic Scare. Open J Regen Med. 2020;9(2):15-9. doi: 10.4236/ojrm.2020.92003.
28. Han G, Zhou YH. Possibly critical role of wearing masks in general population in controlling COVID-19. J Med Virol. 2020;10.1002/jmv.25886. doi: 10.1002/jmv.25886.
29. Wu HL, Huang J, Zhang CJP, He Z, Ming WK. Facemask shortage and the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak: Reflections on public health measures. EClinicalMedicine. 2020;21:100329. doi: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100329.
30. Syed F, Sibgatullah S. Estimation of the Final Size of the COVID-19 Epidemic in Pakistan. medRxiv; 2020. doi: 10.1101/2020.04.01.20050369.
31. Koyama T, Platt D, Parida L. Variant analysis of SARS-CoV-2 genomes. Bull World Health Organ. 2020;98(7):495-504. doi: 10.2471/BLT.20.253591.
32. Lai CC, Liu YH, Wang CY, Wang YH, Hsueh SC, Yen MY, et al. Asymptomatic carrier state, acute respiratory disease, and pneumonia due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2): Facts and myths. J Microbiol Immunol Infect. 2020;53(3):404-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jmii.2020.02.012.
33. Guan WJ, Chen RC, Zhong NS. Strategies for the prevention and management of coronavirus disease 2019. Eur Respir J. 2020;55(4):2000597. doi: 10.1183/13993003.00597-2020.
34. Lam SKK, Hung MSY, Chien WT. Uncertainty surrounding the use of face masks in the community amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Int J Nurs Stud. 2020;108:103651. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2020.103651.
35. Khadka S, Hashmi FK, Usman M. Preventing COVID-19 in low- and middle-income countries. Drugs Ther Perspect. 2020;1-3. doi: 10.1007/s40267-020-00728-8.
36. Monteleone G, Ardizzone S. Are patients with inflammatory bowel disease at increased risk for Covid-19 infection? J Crohns Colitis. 2020;jjaa061. doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjaa061.


Submitted date:
07/26/2020

Reviewed date:
08/12/2020

Accepted date:
08/16/2020

Publication date:
08/16/2020

5f395b950e88253749e5db48 iberoamericanjm Articles
Links & Downloads

Iberoam J Med

Share this page
Page Sections