Lack of evidence on SARS-CoV-2 transmission dynamics has led to shifting isolation guidelines between airborne and droplet isolation precautions. During the initial isolation of 13 individuals confirmed positive with COVID-19 infection, air and surface samples were …
The emergent coronavirus, designated severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), is a zoonotic pathogen that has demonstrated remarkable transmissibility in the human population and is the etiological agent of a current global pandemic called COVID-191. We measured the dynamic (short-term) aerosol efficiencies of SARS-CoV-2 and compared the efficiencies with two other emerging coronaviruses, SARS-CoV (emerged in 2002) and Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome CoV (MERS-CoV; emerged starting in 2012).
This study documents results of SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing of environmental surfaces and personal protective equipment surrounding 3 COVID-19 patients in isolation rooms in a Singapore hospital.
Introduction: Spontaneous brain abscess and intracranial empyema are rare but life-threatening diseases. They can result from potential complications of oral chronic infections. Given the similarity between most of the germs commonly found both in cerebral abscess and in oral cavity and its anatomic proximity, the oral cavity represents a major source of cerebral infections.
Presentation of cases: We report here a series of seven cases of intracranial abscesses and empyema due to dental pathogens that occurred in the neurosurgery department of our institute. Five of those seven cases were then cared in the oral surgery department of our institute.
Discussion: Bacteriological examination of the brain abscesses identified an oral commensal bacterium belonging to streptococci group in six patients (85.7%) and Porphyromonas Gingivalis, a pathogen oral germ involved in periodontal diseases in the seventh patient. For all patients examined, oral status and oral health were poor or moderate with the presence of dental caries, missing teeth and abundant dental plaque. Except the oral cavity, no other front door or infectious site were found.
Conclusion: This rare series of cases highlights the importance of systematically explore the oral cavity in presence of intracranial infection and to radically eradicate the potential infectious foci.
Background/purpose: To assess how the current COVID-19 epidemic influenced peoples’ utilization of emergency dental services in Beijing, China.
Methods: The first-visit patients seeking emergency dental services before or at the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic were retrieved. Their demographic characteristics and the reasons for visiting were recorded and analyzed.
Results: There were 2,537 patients involved in this study. Thirty-eight percent fewer patients visited the dental urgency at the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic than before. The distribution of dental problems has changed significantly. The proportion of dental and oral infection raised from 51.0% of pre-COVID-19 to 71.9% during COVID-19, and dental trauma decreased from 14.2% to 10.5%. Meanwhile, the non-urgency cases reduced to three-tenths of pre-COVID-19.
Conclusion: Within the limitation of this study, the COVID-19 epidemic had a strong influence on the utilization of emergency dental services.
The recent COVID-19 pandemic and state’s “Shelter in place” guidelines have restricted patient’s access to dental services, including oral medicine, as well as continuity of clinical education for oral medicine residents. This has required immediate attention from clinicians and educators.
The novel COVID-19 came under limelight few months back (December 2019) and has recently been declared a pandemic by WHO. It has resulted in serious financial implications being faced by dental practices, hospitals and healthcare workers. Dental practice currently is restricted to provision of emergency dental care whereas, many hospitals have also cancelled elective procedures to save finances for COVID-19 treatment which is expensive and unpredictable. In addition, healthcare workers are also facing financial challenges in this difficult time. Competent authorities should step in to help dental practices, hospitals and healthcare workers in order to ensure the provision of all types of healthcare efficiently in these testing times and beyond.
Recently, the epidemic of Novel Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a chief public health challenge for many countries around the world. In Italy, it started in January the 31st with the first 2 cases reported; on Monday the 13th of April, the total confirmed cases were 156.363 with 19.901 total deaths (www.who.int). Turin is the fourth Italian city, with roughly 862.000 inhabitants, and the capital of Piedmont region, one of the most affected by COVID-19.
What does a scientific journal do? In a recent paper, Rubin et al. [1], tells us: At the Journal, we work with authors to craft their messages to provide readers the best information from rigorous medical practice and basic science. The process can take time, with careful peer review, editing, and graphics often involving multiple rounds of revision. This work fulfills our mission: to provide our readers with the highest-quality information to guide the care of patients, and continues, But some situations call for a different approach. The current outbreak of coronavirus infection is a threat to the health of the public and a breaking news story that changes hour by hour. We can eventually take a long view of how to manage and prevent epidemics, but today practitioners and public health authorities need actionable information as soon as possible. And concludes the article, the rapid pace of infectious disease outbreaks can be frightening. Our aim is to transparently bring readers the best information available in a highly expedited manner.
The pandemic of novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is having an unprecedented impact on all aspects of our lives. Never in the history of mankind, have we faced a global public health issue of this enormous magnitude with its impact across a spectrum of economic activity, travel, governance, education, and the like.