الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract COVID-19 is highly infectious and transmitted mainly through respiratory droplets and contact with infected persons. Lu et al. reported that the disease can be transmitted through the mucous membranes, including the conjunctiva. There have been many case reports in which many ophthalmologists were found to be infected through routine diagnosis and treatment. Several ophthalmic societies have formulated different ophthalmic care plans to ensure ophthalmologist personal safety. The most common measures advocated lowering patient attendance, suspending elective clinical services, donning personal protective equipment (PPE), using environmental controls, such as protective shields (plastic) on slit lamps, and suspending proximity techniques, such as direct ophthalmoscopy. With this background we designed this study to evaluate applying infection control measures against covid19 as a respiratory infection in Eye care unites in Menoufia Governorate using a validated infection control measures questionnaire. Our cross sectional study with convenience sampling technique was conducted on 139 ophthalmology workers from February to April 2022 through personal interview and online questionnaire. Four questionnaire were used and they involved questions about: 2- Responders socio-demographic data. 3- Infection control measures in clinics. 4- Infection control measures in operating rooms. 5- Infection control measures in hospitals wards. The study included 85 doctors and 54 nurses working in ophthalmic department 72.7% in ministry of health and 27.3% in university hospital. Most of them were working less than 10 years 59.7% and 40.3 % working for more than 10 years. 77.7% of studied group aged 20-40 years and 22.3% are 40-≥60 years old. According gender distribution 23.7% were males and 76.3%were females. 57.6% of the studied group were infected with COVID-19. Regarding infection control measures used 71.9% of the studied group were vaccinated, 56.1% limitated number of patient, 29.5% assessed staff for fever before examination while 32.4% assessed patients. 61.2% of patients were obligated to use mask. 69.1% of examination rooms were well ventilated. 64.0% of studied group used disinfectants. PPE were available only for 43.2%. 66.2% of the studied group used clear shield on the slit lamps during examination. 61.9% rubbed hands between patients and only 30.9% disinfected slit lamp between patients. 72.7% asked patients not to talk during examination. Percentage of who take precautions while examining patients without respiratory illness was 59.7 % that increased to 66.9% when examining patients with respiratory illness. 44.6% of the studied group did not investigate patients before urgent admission while 40.3% did CT only. Before admission of elective patients, 45.3% did not investigate patients and 35.3 did CT only. 49.6% operating upon COVID-19 suspected or confirmed cases and only 78.4% and 71.9% of studied group took full precautions while operating upon suspected non suspected COVID-19 patients; respectively. |