COVID-19 frequently asked inpatient questions
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Frequently Asked Inpatient Questions Microchapter |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Gurmandeep Singh Sandhu,M.B.B.S.[2] Aisha Adigun, B.Sc., M.D.[3]Harmeet Kharoud M.D.[4]Rinky Agnes Botleroo, M.B.B.S.Nuha Al-Howthi, MD[5]Ifrah Fatima, M.B.B.S[6]}
Treatment Based Questions
Complications Based Questions
Co-Morbidity Based Questions
Hospital Discharge Related Questions
Re-Infection Related Questions
Pregnancy Related Questions
Pediatrics Related Questions
Are children with congenital heart diseases at increased risk of COVID-19?
Are children with underlying conditions at increased risk of hospitalization?
Is there and an association between KAWASAKI disease and COVID-19?
Is Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) fatal? What precautions can be taken to avoid it?
Should routinely-recommended Hepatitis A and B vaccines continue to be administered to children?
Should vaccinations for HBV exposed infants be continued during the COVID 19 pandemic?
Visitors Related Questions
Can I have visitors while I’m in the hospital?
Is there anything I can to do to help others who have COVID-19?
General In-Patient Questions
Does being hospitalized with other COVID-19 patients worsen my outcome?
What are the diet recommendations if I get hospitalized?
What can I expect while I’m in the hospital?
When can I leave the hospital?
Can you catch COVID-19 from a blood transfusion?
There is no evidence that coronaviruses are transmissible by blood transfusion. Furthermore, pre-donation screening procedures are designed to prevent donations from people with symptoms of respiratory illnesses.
Do wastewater & sewage workers need additional protection when handling untreated waste from hospitals with COVID-19 patients?
Wastewater workers should use standard practices including basic hygiene precautions and wear the recommended PPE( Personal Protective Equipment) like goggles,protective face mask or splash-proof face shield,liquid-repellent coveralls,waterproof gloves,rubber boots as prescribed for their current work tasks when handling untreated waste.Basic Hygiene precautions include:
- Washing hands with soap and water immediately after handling human waste or sewage.
- Avoid touching face, mouth, eyes, nose, or open sores and cuts while handling human waste or sewage.
- After handling human waste or sewage, wash hands with soap and water before eating or drinking.
- After handling human waste or sewage, wash hands with soap and water before and after using the toilet.
- Removing soiled work clothes before eating food and eating in designated areas away from human waste and sewage-handling activities.
- Not smoking or chewing tobacco or gum while handling human waste or sewage.
- Keeping open sores, cuts, and wounds covered with clean, dry bandages.
- Gently flushing eyes with safe water if human waste or sewage contacts eyes.
- Using waterproof gloves to prevent cuts and contact with human waste or sewage.
- Wearing rubber boots at the worksite and during transport of human waste or sewage.
- Removing rubber boots and work clothes before leaving worksite.
- Cleaning contaminated work clothing daily with 0.05% chlorine solution (1-part household bleach to 100-parts water).
Management of Dead Bodies from COVID-19?
Do any special procedures exist for the management of bodies of persons who died from COVID-19?
General Health Care Practitioner (HCP) questions
I have underlying health conditions, are there work restrictions in place for me?
Is post-exposure prophylaxis currently available, and when can it be used?
Can routine vaccinations still be administered to patients?
Should I use face mask/respirator while taking care of pregnant patients with known/suspected COVID-19 infection?
When available, respirators (or facemasks if a respirator is not available), eye protection, gloves, and gowns should be used for the care of pregnant patients with known or suspected COVID-19 infection.
I am a Health Care Practitioner living with someone who is at a higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 infection. What precautions should I take?
There are no additional precautions for Health Care Practitioner. Some Health Care Practitioner may choose to implement extra measures when arriving home from providing healthcare, such as removing any clothing worn during delivery of healthcare, taking off shoes, washing clothing, and immediately showering. However, these are optional personal practices because there is insufficient evidence on whether they are effective.People at higher risk of severe illness from COVID-19 should take the general precautions recommended for them which includes washing hands often, taking everyday precautions to keep space between them and others (stay 6 feet away, which is about two arm lengths),staying away from people who are sick,cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched services.
I am pregnant and a health care worker. Can I work with patients who are potentially infected with COVID-19?
Information on COVID-19 in pregnancy is limited. Pregnant women are not currently considered at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19. However, pregnant women have had a higher risk of severe illness when infected with viruses from the same family as COVID-19 and other viral respiratory infections, such as influenza.
Are there work restrictions recommended for HCP with underlying health conditions who may care for COVID-19 patients?
- Adherence to recommended infection prevention and control practices is an important part of protecting HCP and patients in healthcare settings. All HCP who care for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients should adhere to standard and transmission based precautions.
- To the extent feasible, healthcare facilities could consider prioritizing HCP who are not at higher risk of developing severe illness from COVID-19 or who are not pregnant to care for confirmed or suspected COVID-19 patients.
- If staffing shortages make this challenging, facilities could consider restricting HCP at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 or who are pregnant from being present for higher-risk procedures (e.g., aerosol-generating procedures) on COVID-19 patients.
- HCP who are concerned about their individual risk for severe illness from COVID-19 due to underlying medical conditions while caring for COVID-19 patients can discuss their concerns with their supervisor or occupational health services.
- People 65 years and older and people of all ages with serious underlying health conditions — like serious heart conditions, chronic lung disease, and diabetes — seem to be at higher risk of developing severe illness from COVID-19.
Whom should healthcare providers notify if they suspect a patient has COVID-19?
Healthcare providers should immediately notify infection control personnel at their facility if they suspect COVID-19 in a patient. If a patient tests positive, providers should report positive results to their local/state health department.