Impact of COVID-19 on Uro-Oncological Patients: A Comprehensive Review of the Literature

Background: The aim of this paper is to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on patients with urological malignancies (prostate cancer, bladder and upper tract urothelial cancer, kidney cancer, penile and testicular cancer) and to review the available recommendations reported in the literature. Methods: A review was performed, through the PubMed database, regarding available recommendations reported in the literature, to identify studies examining the impact of COVID-19 on treatment and clinical outcomes (including upstaging, recurrence, and mortality) for uro-oncological patients. Results: The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically changed the urological guidelines and patients’ access to screening programs and follow-up visits. Great efforts were undertaken to guarantee treatments to high-risk patients although follow up was not always possible due to recurrent surges, and patients with lower risk cancers had to wait for therapies. Conclusions: Physically and mentally, uro-oncological patients paid a heavy price during the COVID-19 pandemic. Long term data on the “costs” of clinical decisions made during the COVID-19 pandemic are still to be revealed and analyzed

Returning to work and the impact of post COVID-19 condition: A systematic review

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing, with rapidly increasing cases all over the world, and the emerging issue of post COVID-19 (or Long COVID-19) condition is impacting the occupational world. Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to evaluate the impact of lasting COVID-19 symptoms or disability on the working population upon their return to employment. Methods: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Statements we performed a systematic review in December 2021, screening three databases (PubMed, ISI Web of Knowledge, Scopus), for articles investigating return to work in patients that were previously hospitalized due to COVID-19. A hand-searched was then performed through the references of the included systematic review. A quality assessment was performed on the included studies. Results: Out of the 263 articles found through the initial search, 11 studies were included in this systematic review. The selected studies were divided based on follow-up time, in two months follow-up, follow-up between two and six months, and six months follow-up. All the studies highlighted an important impact of post COVID-19 condition in returning to work after being hospitalized, with differences based on follow-up time, home Country and mean/median age of the sample considered. Conclusions: This review highlighted post COVID-19 condition as a rising problem in occupational medicine, with consequences on workers' quality of life and productivity. The role of occupational physicians could be essential in applying limitations to work duties or hours and facilitating the return to employment in workers with a post COVID-19 condition

Italian health care workers and Adverse skin reactions to personal protective equipment during Covid-19 pandemic

Introduction: During the pandemic, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) has become essential for Healthcare Workers (HCWs) to fight safely against the virus. However, the extensive and prolonged use of PPE may cause various adverse skin reactions due to the use of alcohol hand cleanser and protracted use of masks and goggles. The aim of this study is to evaluate the skin problems caused by PPE in HCWs and the possible consequences on their work. Materials and methods: An online ad hoc questionnaire, composed by 35 questions about sociodemographic characteristics, work related issues and exposure/habits about PPE, was administered to a sample of Italian HCWs. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed in order to explore possible associations between variables. Results: We tested 3 types of PPE: Gloves, Hair Bonnets and Masks for different time of utilization (<1, 1-3, 3-6, >6 hours). The sample included 1184 participants: 292 workers reported a dermatological pathology nested in four different pathological groups: 45 (15%) had Psoriasis, 54 (19%) Eczema, 38 (13%) Acne, 48 (16%), seborrheic dermatitis and 107 (36%) other. 25 workers had a loss of occupational days due to dermatological illness; 56 occupational physician surveillance visits were asked for; in 30 cases were recognized limitations in working duties. Conclusions: Protecting HCWs requires the use of PPE, but occupational dermatitis is an emerging problem in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. National data for affected healthcare professionals could contribute to a better understanding of the problem and prevention initiatives in the workplace

COVID-19 Vaccination and Medical Liability: An International Perspective in 18 Countries

The COVID-19 vaccination has proven to be the most effective prevention measure, reducing deaths and hospitalizations and allowing, in combination with non-pharmacological interventions, the pandemic to be tackled. Although most of the adverse reactions to vaccination present mild symptoms and serious effects are very rare, they can be the cause of legal action against the healthcare workers (HCWs) who administered it. To highlight differences in the medical liability systems, we performed a search for the three most populous countries in each continent on vaccine injury compensation programs, new laws or policies to protect HCWs administering vaccinations introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, and policies on mandatory vaccinations, on literature databases and institutional sites. We found that in seven countries the medical liability system is based on Common Law, while in eleven it is mainly based on Civil Law. Considering the application of specific laws to protect HCWs who vaccinate during the pandemic, only the USA and Canada provided immunity from liability. Among the countries we analyzed, fourteen have adopted compensation funds. From an international perspective, our results highlight that in eleven (61.1%) countries medical liability is mainly based on Civil Law, whilst in seven (38.9%) it is based on Common Law

Medical Liability of the Vaccinating Doctor: Comparing Policies in European Union Countries during the COVID-19 Pandemic

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic exhausted healthcare systems around the world, including European Union countries, with healthcare workers at the frontline. Therefore, new health laws and policies have been introduced at the national level in order to offer greater legal protection for health workers. Since the introduction of COVID-19 vaccination, it has led to the development of specific laws to define the compulsoriness for particular categories. This review aimed to evaluate the system of medical liability, focusing on the ten countries of the European Union with the highest rate of vaccination coverage against SARS-CoV-2. A country-by-country analysis was conducted on the different medical liability systems of individual professionals, in general, and with specific focus on the vaccinating doctors. Additional search was conducted to investigate which European states have introduced specific policies in this field, to identify the implementation of any new laws alongside the COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, and to assess which countries have adopted the European Digital COVID Certificate and funded specific compensation programs for COVID-19 vaccination. Our results highlight an extremely fragmented European scenario; therefore, this work could be a starting point to define a common approach for medical liability and related policies in the COVID-19 pandemic

Alcohol use and risk of work injuries among health care workers: a pilot study

Introduction: Alcohol use accounts for 11% of all workplace injuries and alcohol-related absenteeism amounts to $2 billion/year. Literature is lacking of information on potential association between occupational injuries among health care workers and alcohol use. This study aims to conduct a pilot study on alcohol induced injuries in health care workers and analyzes the use of Carbohydrate-Deficient Transferrin (CDT) in health surveillance programs in occupational settings. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was conducted in a large Local Health Unit in Italy. The sample consisted in 75 cases defined as workers who sustained an occupational injury. We analyzed serum ALT, AST, γ GT, MCV and CDT levels. CDT refers to a temporary alteration in the glycosylation pattern of transferrin that occurs in sustained heavy alcohol consumption (50-80 g of alcohol/day for at least 2 weeks). Results: As for the type of occupational injury, biological injuries 36% are the most common ones, followed by slipping and falls 33%, commuting accidents 15%, musculoskeletal injuries caused by manual handling 9% and verbal/physical aggressions 7%. Globally the majority of samples had low or medium CDT levels but no one was positive (cut-off value equal to 2%); no gender difference was detected. Conclusions: In the health care sector, alcohol plays a minor role in the occurrence of occupational injuries. The use of CDT in health surveillance protocols could play a role, such as a specific biomarker, as well as a deterrent for operators who may incur in important work sanctions

Valutazione di Health Technology Assessment del sistema di sanificazione biologico a base di probiotici del genere Bacillus (PCHS)

Le infezioni correlate all’assistenza: priorità per la salute pubblica Epidemiologia delle infezioni correlate all’assistenza in Italia e loro impatto per la salute pubblica Sistemi di sanificazione attualmente disponibili in Italia Il Probiotic Cleaning Hygiene System (PCHS): caratteristiche della tecnologia, aspetti di efficacia e sicurezza Un sistema di sanificazione a base di probiotici per la riduzione delle infezioni correlate all’assistenza e la resistenza antimicrobica: analisi dell’impatto sul budget Impatto ambientale per la salute pubblica degli attuali sistemi di sanificazione di ambienti/superfici in setting assistenziale e comunitario e potenziali benefici dei nuovi sistemi innovativi Analisi delle principali raccomandazioni nazionali su sanificazione e disinfezione degli ambienti sanitari Valutazione etica dell’utilizzo del Probiotic Cleaning Hygiene System (PCHS) in Italia Elementi chiave per il processo decisional

Vaccine-preventable diseases:Immune response in a large population of healthcare students

Background: Students in medicine and other health professions are exposed to numerous occupational hazards, primarily biological hazards, during their academic careers at university. The aim of the present study was to investigate the seroprevalence characteristics of anti-HBsAg, anti-Measles, anti-Mumps, anti-Rubella and anti-Varicella IgG antibodies in healthcare students of a large teaching hospital in Rome. Methods: To accomplish the study's aims, antibody serology data were gathered from students of Medicine and Surgery, Dentistry, and Health Professions at the Catholic University of the Sacred Heart (Rome Campus) during their first Health Surveillance visit, that took place from 2013 to 2023. Results: Our study sample included 2523 students, 44.4 % were protected against Hepatitis B, 87.3 % against measles, 85.5 % against mumps, 94.6 % rubella and 95.2 % against varicella. Differences in antibody coverage between age groups were statistically significant (p &lt; 0.001), except for mumps. It found a lower probability of having seronegative anti-HBVs with an older date since the presumed primary vaccination. Conclusion: In our sample, seropositivity rate against vaccine-preventable diseases, especially for Hepatitis B, was often inadequate to prevent possible biological risks connected with the activities carried out on the ward.</p