SARS-CoV-2 was discovered in Wuhan, China, in the winter of 2019. The World Health Organization (WHO) also announced a new coronavirus epidemic in January 2021. More than 616,000,000 infections and 6.53 Million deaths have been caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic (Sep 22).
Since then, there has been a “tsunami” of biomedical literature about SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19. Only the journal “Clinical Infectious Diseases” received all the manuscripts in the first nine months of 2020. This unprecedented amount of scholarship has made it difficult for researchers and clinicians to navigate.
What have we Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic?
The COVID-19 Pandemic has taught us several critical lessons about infection control. The outbreak of COVID-19 has highlighted the need for preparedness and prompt action to control the spread of infectious diseases. The impact of the Pandemic has been felt on all fronts, from healthcare systems to economies and even social and daily routines. With the lessons learned from COVID-19, we can better respond to future emerging infectious diseases.
Many industries have learned a lot from the Pandemic so far. Businesses and services have had to adapt to an ever-changing environment. They also had to learn how to survive.
While things have returned to a tentative normal, we can still learn many lessons from the Pandemic that will help the industry move forward.
The most important of these lessons is examining infection control practices in healthcare facilities and how they impact patients and the staff’s safety. Here is a brief overview of the most important lessons learned.
Public Health Education
The first and foremost lesson learned from COVID-19 is the importance of public health education. In a pandemic, knowledge is power, and educating the public on basic hygiene practices and prevention strategies can significantly reduce the spread of disease. One of the best outcomes of the Pandemic is that people are more aware of the importance of infection control.
Through effective education, individuals learn about vaccination, mask-wearing, social distancing, and frequent hand hygiene practices, all effective ways to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. It is a positive sign because they are more likely to take preventive measures like hand washing.
Professionals have the chance to talk to patients about infection control and encourage them to consider the implications for the future. The Coronavirus outbreak may have made people more cautious. It could make it easier to manage future pandemics as more people are willing to follow the guidance.
Cleaning Products must be Highly Efficient.
As lockdown restrictions eased and general healthcare offices reopened, it was important to consider how to keep these places safe for patients and staff. Because Coronavirus is a new disease, it requires research to determine how it spreads from person to person. It led to increased awareness about surface transmission.
It was clear that Coronavirus can survive on different surfaces for different periods, just like other bacteria and viruses. Research has shown that Coronavirus can survive on glass and ceramics for five days, while it only lives for hours on copper and aluminum.
The Pandemic has also underscored the importance of adequate resources for healthcare workers, hospitals, and medical facilities. There was a shortage of essential resources, from personal protective equipment to testing kits, ventilators, and other essential equipment during the Pandemic. Infection control requires adequate resources available for handling and containing outbreaks. With proper resource allocation and management, healthcare workers can control the spread of infectious diseases.
The Quality of the Air is a Major Concern.
One alarming finding emerged from Coronavirus research. The virus could easily spread via aerosol. Although social distancing measures were implemented to prevent airborne transmission, further research into the Pandemic revealed that aerosols could easily spread the virus.
Coronavirus spreads in a similar way to other diseases like influenza. Understanding how this happens is crucial to help us manage infection in the future. There are many options for air purification technology, such as disinfectants that emit a cloud of water that kills pathogens. These are all innovations that every practice should consider. You are helping to protect your staff and patients from future illness by investing in an air purifier.
Are Higher Levels of PPE Possible?
Because of government guidance and people wanting to protect themselves, PPE has increased tremendously during the Pandemic. While there are some downsides to using higher levels of PPE, such as the environmental impact, there is good reason to keep these measures in place for the future.
“Coronavirus spreads in a similar way to other diseases like influenza. Understanding how this virus is transmitted through the air is highly beneficial for managing infection control in the future.
PPE is an excellent first defense against transmittable diseases. It has been shown to have a significant impact on the health of healthcare professionals. Professionals must be protected against cross-contamination.
Proper waste segregation has become even more critical than ever. Excellent waste management was a key component of the Pandemic. It allowed for cross-contamination to be prevented and limited disease transmission. The Pandemic introduced new waste streams professionals needed to be aware of. For example, lateral flow tests are classified as chemical waste and must be disposed of accordingly.
Early Deduction of Infection
Another important lesson learned from COVID-19 is the need for enhanced surveillance and monitoring of infectious diseases. Early detection of an infectious disease outbreak allows temporary control measures to be implemented, significantly reducing disease spread. Real-time surveillance and monitoring allow for early detection of emerging infectious diseases, which leads to prompt action to mitigate the spread of the disease.
Global Cooperation and Collaboration
The Pandemic has shown that global cooperation is crucial in responding to outbreaks of infectious diseases. The rapid spread of COVID-19 across continents illustrates the need for a coordinated global response to control the spread of infectious diseases. Nations should work together to quickly improve their preparedness and response strategies to contain emerging infectious diseases.
The Pandemic has also highlighted the importance of collaboration between medical researchers and healthcare professionals. Medical research breakthroughs in the treatment and vaccination against COVID-19 were critical in controlling the spread of the disease. Effective data sharing and research collaboration between medical researchers and healthcare professionals can potentially reduce disease spread, improve treatment outcomes, and eventually lead to the discovery of more effective vaccines and treatments.
Prepare for the Future
It makes sense to ensure that healthcare facilities have the best infection control procedures. We were making progress with the introduction of air disinfectants and enhanced PPE. We also better understand how diseases spread and how to protect ourselves from them.
Initial Medical supplies a wide range of PPE and infection control solutions to meet current and future needs. They also offer training and support for healthcare professionals in waste management.
There are many lessons to be learned from the Pandemic. Perhaps the most important is that healthcare is resilient and will always put people first. Caregivers have adapted to the most difficult challenges and are still essential to modern healthcare.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the COVID-19 Pandemic has taught us valuable lessons that will be instrumental in developing future preparedness and response strategies. Public health education, resource allocation, global cooperation, enhanced surveillance and monitoring, and effective collaboration between researchers and healthcare workers are vital components of infectious disease control.
We must apply these valuable lessons to our systems and practices to increase our resilience to future outbreaks, for preparedness is key to an effective response. The world has witnessed the turmoil that can arise from unpreparedness, inaction, and a lack of effective strategies. However, we can reduce the spread of infectious diseases by implementing the lessons learned from COVID-19.
