contagion Archives - Amazing Health Advances

New Method Developed to Assess the Effectiveness of Facemasks in Obstructing Droplets

AHA Publisher — Wed, 01 Jul 2020 07:00:46 +0000

Florida Atlantic University via News-Medical Net – Currently, there are no specific guidelines on the most effective materials and designs for facemasks to minimize the spread of droplets from coughs or sneezes to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19. While there have been prior studies on how medical-grade masks perform, data on cloth-based coverings used by the vast majority of the general public are sparse. Research from Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, just published in the journal Physics of Fluids, demonstrates through visualization of emulated coughs and sneezes, a method to assess the effectiveness of facemasks in obstructing droplets. The rationale behind the recommendation for using masks or other face coverings is to reduce the risk of cross-infection via the transmission of respiratory droplets from infected to healthy individuals. Researchers employed flow visualization in a laboratory setting using a laser light sheet and a mixture of distilled water and glycerin to generate the synthetic fog that made up the content of a cough-jet. They visualized droplets expelled from a mannequin’s mouth while simulating coughing and sneezing. They tested masks that are readily available to the general public, which do not draw away from the supply of medical-grade masks and respirators for healthcare workers. They tested a single-layer bandana-style covering, a homemade mask that was stitched using two-layers of cotton quilting fabric consisting of 70 threads per inch, and a non-sterile cone-style mask that is available in most pharmacies. By placing these various masks on the mannequin, they were able to map out the paths of droplets and demonstrate how differently they perform. Results showed that loosely folded facemasks and bandana-style coverings provide minimal stopping-capability for the smallest aerosolized respiratory droplets. Well-fitted homemade masks with multiple layers of quilting fabric, and off-the-shelf cone style masks, proved to be the most effective in reducing droplet dispersal. These masks were able to curtail the speed and range of the respiratory jets significantly, albeit with some leakage through the mask material and from small gaps along the edges. Importantly, uncovered emulated coughs were able to travel noticeably farther than the currently recommended 6-foot distancing guideline. Without a mask, droplets traveled more than 8 feet; with a bandana, they traveled 3 feet, 7 inches; with a folded cotton handkerchief, they traveled 1 foot, 3 inches; with the stitched quilted cotton mask, they traveled 2.5 inches; and with the cone-style mask, droplets traveled about 8 inches. “In addition to providing an initial indication of the effectiveness of protective equipment, the visuals used in our study can help convey to the general public the rationale behind social-distancing guidelines and recommendations for using facemasks,” said Siddhartha Verma, Ph.D., lead author and an assistant professor who co-authored the paper with Manhar Dhanak, Ph.D., department chair, professor, and director of SeaTech; and John Frakenfeld, technical paraprofessional, all within FAU’s Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering. “Promoting widespread awareness of effective preventive measures is crucial at this time as we are observing significant spikes in cases of COVID-19 infections in many states, especially Florida.” When the mannequin was not fitted with a mask, they projected droplets much farther than the 6-foot distancing guidelines currently recommended by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The researchers observed droplets traveling up to 12 feet within approximately 50 seconds. Moreover, the tracer droplets remained suspended midair for up to three minutes in the quiescent environment. These observations, in combination with other recent studies, suggest that current social-distancing guidelines may need to be updated to account for aerosol-based transmission of pathogens. “We found that although the unobstructed turbulent jets were observed to travel up to 12 feet, a large majority of the ejected droplets fell to the ground by this point,” said Dhanak. “Importantly, both the number and concentration of the droplets will decrease with increasing distance, which is the fundamental rationale behind social-distancing.” The pathogen responsible for COVID-19 is found primarily in respiratory droplets that are expelled by infected individuals during coughing, sneezing, or even talking and breathing. Apart from COVID-19, respiratory droplets also are the primary means of transmission for various other viral and bacterial illnesses, such as the common cold, influenza, tuberculosis, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), to name a few. These pathogens are enveloped within respiratory droplets, which may land on healthy individuals and result in direct transmission, or on inanimate objects, which can lead to infection when a healthy individual comes in contact with them. “Our researchers have demonstrated how masks are able to significantly curtail the speed and range of the respiratory droplets and jets. Moreover, they have uncovered how emulated coughs can travel noticeably farther than the currently recommended six-foot distancing guideline,” Stella Batalama, Ph.D., Dean, Florida Atlantic University College of Engineering and Computer Science “Their research outlines the procedure for setting up simple visualization experiments using easily available materials, which may help healthcare professionals, medical researchers, and manufacturers in assessing the effectiveness of face masks and other personal protective equipment qualitatively.” To read the original article click here.

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Ultraviolet Light Can Reduce Covid Transmission Indoors

AHA Publisher — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 07:00:21 +0000

Nicky Blackburn via Israel21c – An international team of scientists are advocating the use of ultraviolet light indoors as a cheap and efficient way to inactivate the coronavirus. One of the biggest questions facing us these days is how we can make our indoor spaces safe from Covid-19 contagion. Studies have shown that we are far more likely to catch the virus in closed indoor spaces like offices, schools, public transport, museums and health centers rather than outdoors. A team of international scientists, including Prof. Ido Kaminer of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, studied various methods to prevent coronavirus contagion in indoor spaces, and based on their findings, recently published in ACS Nano, advocate the use of ultraviolet light as a “particularly efficient, easily deployable, and economically affordable” way to inactivate the virus. The experts, from the fields of virology, immunology, aerosols, architecture, and physics, researched currently available UV-C sources, such as fluorescent lamps, microcavity plasmas, and LEDs. They concluded that by applying this type of light on the inside of the ventilation systems of buildings and in shared indoor spaces while not in use, it will be possible to quickly and efficiently deactivate both airborne and surface-deposited SARS-CoV-2 viruses. The team also explored the cost of deploying such a technology and argue that a global capital investment of a few billion dollars in UV-C sources could protect more than a billion indoor workers worldwide. “The COVID-19 outbreak, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is posing an extraordinary challenge that requires swift worldwide action for the massive deployment of affordable and ready-to-apply measures to drastically reduce its transmission probabilities in indoor spaces,” the report said. “Doing so will allow for the eventual return to conventional activities such as working at the office, going to school, or even attending entertainment events.” Recent studies show that Covid-19 virus transmission follows two main paths. It can be transmitted through the air in droplets exhaled by infected individuals and inhaled by healthy individuals, or it can be left on surfaces from exhalations or hand contact. Filters and chemicals are possible solutions to minimize this problem, but their installation may be costly and time-consuming. In addition, some chemicals that are effective for virus disinfection, such as ozone, can be harmful if misused. The other experts include professors Javier García de Abajo (Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies), Andreas Meyerhans (Universitat Pompeu Fabra), Joan Rosell-Llompart (University Rovira i Virgili), Rufino Javier Hernández (University of the Basque Country) and Tilman Sanchez-Elsner (University of Southampton). To read the original article click here. For more articles from Israel21c click here.

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An Insider’s Look at Working in an Israeli Corona Ward

AHA Publisher — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 07:00:37 +0000

Naama Barak via Israel21c – Physiotherapist Dania Hofi talks to ISRAEL21c about donning protective gear, treating Covid-19 patients and the rehabilitation that awaits them. “Entering the isolation wards is putting yourself at risk. We feel on the front lines.” This is what treating people suffering from coronavirus is like for Dania Hofi, a physiotherapist who runs Sheba Medical Center’s school of physiotherapy. In regular times, she doesn’t work in the wards – but once the pandemic hit Israel, she volunteered to treat Covid-19 patients. “Everyone there is giving their heart and soul,” she says. “There’s a personal risk but it’s part of the dedication that characterizes us as professionals.” Usually associated with things like back pain or injured athletes, physiotherapy also deals with respiratory treatment and rehabilitation. While this less-than-glamorous field is usually relegated to the backbenches, Covid-19’s adverse effects on patients’ respiratory systems has brought it forward. “The respiratory field is not very popular, but if there’s a field in physiotherapy that really deals with matters of life or death – this is it,” Hofi says. “Unfortunately, it’s very much in demand nowadays.” This demand started when Sheba opened its first coronavirus ward. At first, physiotherapists communicated with patients via telerehabilitation, giving them exercises and instructions from afar. But as the number of patients grew and their condition worsened, it was time to step in. “We see all types – we see the people who have corona and don’t have any symptoms at all in their respiratory system,” Hofi explains. “There are those who experience it lightly – perhaps a little shortness of breath while under stress, a dry and persistent cough. “Then there are the patients listed in satisfactory condition who fail to oxygenate properly,” she says. “They work very hard to absorb the oxygen. It’s tiring to breathe like a chimney all the time, and the respiratory muscles grow weaker and then comes the moment that they require a ventilator. That’s a very difficult situation with a high mortality rate.” Patients on the Verge In their treatment of coronavirus patients, physiotherapists have several goals. One is to ease breathing and reduce shortness of breath – this is done with breathing exercises, relaxation methods, placing patients in various positions and using different accessories. Another goal is to improve patients’ oxygen saturation so that their condition doesn’t deteriorate. And when a patient does require being hooked up to a ventilator, the focus turns to trying to prevent complications and to help with the weaning process. Because coronavirus patients can deteriorate so quickly, physios need to make sure they don’t tire them out. “There are patients who really are on the verge, and all it takes is for you to do a few innocent exercises with them and it’s beyond their capabilities,” she explains. “We keep this danger in mind.” Meanwhile, therapists also treat patients for more general difficulties associated with long-term hospitalization. “The disease isn’t over in a day or two, and patients lie down for a long time,” Hofi says. “Even if their condition isn’t that severe, they feel really ill and are confined to bed for a long time. Even if you put a young man in bed for a long period, it will be difficult for him to get up and walk.” Treatment Without Touching While in regular times treatment is hands-on, this isn’t a possibility for patients in isolation wards. “It doesn’t look like regular treatments,” Hofi explains. “It’s all about touch, closeness. We spend a lot of time with the patients. And suddenly you either treat from afar or you wear a suit through which you can hardly see your eyes. It’s against our nature.” While medical staff are required to limit patient contact as much as possible, therapists find themselves torn between adhering to safety guidelines and helping patients reach for their food, for example, or connect their phones to chargers. “We’re also seeing a lot of sad things – the terrible loneliness of the patients.” “It’s work that you take home with you, big time,” Hofi says. “I’m an old hand, and I’m telling you it’s not easy at all. We really are trying to do our best.” “Happily, I can point to people who do recover and that raises my morale,” she adds. Sharing Insights Coronavirus’ long-term effects on patients remain unclear. “I can tell you that the people I’ve seen recovering have recovered well. They go back to themselves,” Hofi says. “Does it leave respiratory limitations? That’s a question I can’t answer, but we’re thinking about it.” A bright side to working on the global pandemic, Hofi says, has been the spirit of mobilization and cooperation. “I’ve been very touched by the cooperation between physiotherapists here in Israel and also across the world,” she says. “Information is being put out quickly to share insights. Everything is being done very quickly to meet the requirements.” A physiotherapist from China with more COVID-19 experience, for example, has been passing on his insights to Israeli colleagues, while on a local level people are putting forward their knowledge and expertise. “I think Israel really can serve as an example,” Hofi says. “There’s room for improvement, but overall we deserve a pat on the back.” And, she adds, “Thank God it’s not total chaos like what we’re seeing elsewhere. It’s under control. That also needs to be said.” To read the original article click here. For more articles from Israel21c click here.

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