General In-Patient Questions
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Frequently Asked Inpatient Questions Microchapter |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Nuha Al-Howthi, MD[2]Rinky Agnes Botleroo, M.B.B.S.Sara Haddadi, M.D.[3]
General In-Patient Questions
What are the diet recommendations if I get hospitalized?
- Getting the right amount of nutritious food like plenty of fruits and vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains is important for health.
- Dietary supplements aren’t meant to treat or prevent COVID-19. Certain vitamins and minerals (e.g., Vitamins C and D, zinc) may have effects on how our immune system works to fight off infections, as well as inflammation and swelling.
- The best way to obtain these nutrients is through foods: Vitamin C in fruits and vegetables, Vitamin D in low-fat milk, fortified milk alternatives, and seafood, and zinc in lean meat, seafood, legumes, nuts, and seeds [1].
When can I leave the hospital?
- Patients can be discharged from the healthcare facility whenever clinically indicated. Isolation should be maintained at home if the patient returns home before the time period recommended for discontinuation of hospital transmission-based Precautions.
- Decisions to discontinue transmission-based Precautions or in-home isolation can be made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with clinicians, infection prevention and control specialists, and public health authorities based upon multiple factors, including disease severity, illness signs and symptoms, and results of laboratory testing for COVID-19 in respiratory specimens.
Can COVID-19 be transmitted via 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?[2][3]
- 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 the work site.
- Cleaning contaminated work clothing daily with 0.05% chlorine solution (1-part household bleach to 100-parts water).