key: cord-0736374-lu72zqtk
authors: Goren, Andy; Rathod, Dipali; Kroumpouzos, George; Jafferany, Mohammad; Goldust, Mohamad
title: Safety Measures in Dermatology Help Minimize Spread of COVID‐19
date: 2020-06-07
journal: Dermatol Ther
DOI: 10.1111/dth.13773
sha: da56de1349edd4277b35135946843da68455b7cb
doc_id: 736374
cord_uid: lu72zqtk

nan

Health care providers can do a lot together to help reduce the risk of transmitting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) within the communities they serve. [1] [2] [3] As dermatologists, we need to practice effective safety measures as recommended by World Health Organization (WHO), Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), and other local, state, national and global health organizations while treating our patients amidst the COVID-19 outbreak to reduce the risk of community transmission and protect our patients, partners and staff. [4] [5] [6] [7] Disinfection of practice is crucial. The WHO recommends the use of 70% ethyl alcohol to disinfect popular clinical areas between uses and sodium hypochlorite 0.5% to disinfect common surfaces. Common areas should be sanitized between patients and at the end of each day. Such areas include exam room tabletops, countertops, exam beds/tables, doorknobs, This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Patients visiting outpatient dermatology clinics and inpatient departments should adhere to proper respiratory hygiene, i.e., wear masks covering the nose and mouth areas, and any suspected COVID-19-infected patient or those with any mild respiratory illness should be referred to the respective departments and specialists. If a patient with respiratory symptoms is unable to reschedule, they should be provided with a mask and isolated in an examination room, and staff caring for the patient should be notified. Dermatologists in private practice Dermatologists and support staff should wear surgical caps, masks, gloves, goggles, and protective suits while at work and take off their personal protective equipment (PPE) only after their work is over in a designated disposable area. 8 Since the dermatologist and other office staff can be exposed to viral infections (e.g. varicella, HPV, HIV, measles and other viral exanthems) other than COVID-19, this may pose a risk to the staff and immunosuppressed patients attending dermatology facilities, employees and those concerned should receive appropriate vaccinations and testing to assess their immune status. Pregnant women and women of childbearing age should be particularly This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

cognizant of these protocols and should be advised to visit a health center in case of only an absolute emergency. 9 Safety measures that need to be stringently undertaken to protect both the patients and staff while working include: before and after all patient contact, carrying out proper hand hygiene .i.e. washing hands regularly with soap and hot water at least for 20 seconds, especially before eating, after visiting the bathroom, after touching or blowing the nose, sneezing, or coughing. 10 Use of an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 -70% alcohol content should be encouraged in case soap and water are not readily available. Cough etiquette includes mandatory use of a mask, or clean tissue, to cover nose and mouth while coughing or sneezing and appropriate disposal of such after use. Advice to avoid touching the eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands also remains crucial. Minimizing unnecessary scheduling of non-emergent patients in the dermatology facilities and accommodating emergency cases and procedures through appointments along with frequent disinfection of popular clinical areas, as per guidelines provided by WHO and CDC, should help curb the spread of this COVID-19 outbreak.

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