Rapid Telehealth Implementation during the COVID-19 Global Pandemic: A Rapid Review

Cristian Lieneck 1,* , Joseph Garvey 2 , Courtney Collins 2 , Danielle Graham 2 , Corein Loving 2

and Raven Pearson 2

1 School of Health Administration, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX 78666, USA

2 School of Health Sciences, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901, USA; 该Email地址已收到反垃圾邮件插件保护。要显示它您需要在浏览器中启用JavaScript。 (J.G.); 该Email地址已收到反垃圾邮件插件保护。要显示它您需要在浏览器中启用JavaScript。 (C.C.); 该Email地址已收到反垃圾邮件插件保护。要显示它您需要在浏览器中启用JavaScript。 (D.G.); 该Email地址已收到反垃圾邮件插件保护。要显示它您需要在浏览器中启用JavaScript。 (C.L.); 该Email地址已收到反垃圾邮件插件保护。要显示它您需要在浏览器中启用JavaScript。 (R.P.)

*Correspondence: 该Email地址已收到反垃圾邮件插件保护。要显示它您需要在浏览器中启用JavaScript。; Tel.: +1-512-245-6362

Received: 16 October 2020; Accepted: 26 November 2020; Published: 29 November 2020

Abstract: The implementation and continued expansion of telehealth services assists a variety of health care organizations in the delivery of care during the current COVID-19 global pandemic. However, limited research has been conducted on recent, rapid telehealth implementation and expansion initiatives regarding facilitators and barriers surrounding the provision of quality patient care. Our rapid review evaluated the literature specific to rapid telehealth implementation during the current COVID-19 pandemic from three research databases between January 2020 and May 2020 and reported using preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA). The results indicate the rapid implementation and enhanced use of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States surrounding the facilitators and barriers to the provision of patient care, which are categorized into three identified themes: (1) descriptive process-oriented implementations,(2) the interpretation and infusion of the CARES Act of 2020 telehealth exemptions related to the relaxation of patient privacy and security (HIPAA) protocols, and (3) the standard of care protocols and experiences addressing organizational liability and the standard of care. While the study limitation of sample size exists (n = 21), an identification of rapid telehealth implementation advancements and challenges during the current pandemic may assist health care organizations in the delivery of ongoing quality care during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keywords: telehealth; telemedicine; COVID-19; coronavirus; implementation.

Antimicrobial TiN-Ag Coatings in Leather Insole for Diabetic Foot

Sandra M. Marques 1,2,* , Isabel Carvalho 2,3 , Teófilo R. Leite 4 , Mariana Henriques 2 and Sandra Carvalho 1,3

1 CFUM-UP, Physics Department, University of Minho, 4800-058 Guimarães, Portugal; 该Email地址已收到反垃圾邮件插件保护。要显示它您需要在浏览器中启用JavaScript。

2 CEB, Centre of Biological Engineering, LIBRO-Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, Campus of Gualtar, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; 该Email地址已收到反垃圾邮件插件保护。要显示它您需要在浏览器中启用JavaScript。 (I.C.); 该Email地址已收到反垃圾邮件插件保护。要显示它您需要在浏览器中启用JavaScript。 (M.H.)

3 CEMMPRE, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Coimbra, 3030-788 Coimbra, Portugal

4 ICC-Indústrias e Comércio de Calçado S.A., Sol-Pinheiro, 4810-718 Guimarães, Portugal; 该Email地址已收到反垃圾邮件插件保护。要显示它您需要在浏览器中启用JavaScript。* Correspondence: 该Email地址已收到反垃圾邮件插件保护。要显示它您需要在浏览器中启用JavaScript。

Abstract: This work reports on TiN-Ag antimicrobial coatings deposited by d.c. magnetron sputtering on leather used for insoles on the footwear industry, studies involving the antimicrobial properties of Ag-based functionalized leathers by sputtering techniques are shown. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) results suggested the presence of crystalline fcc-TiN phase for the sample without silver, and also a fcc-Ag phase in the samples containing silver. According to the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis, the coatings were homogeneous and dispersed Ag clusters were detected on the surface of samples with silver content above 8 at. %. The Inductively coupled plasma—optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) analysis showed that the ionization of silver over time depends on the morphology of the coatings. The samples did not present cytotoxicity and only samples with incorporated silver presented antibacterial and antifungal activity, highlighting the potential of the TiN-Ag insole coatings for diseases such as diabetic foot.

Keywords: Ag nanoparticles; sputtering; leather; diabetic foot; antimicrobial properties

Analysis of risk factors for multidrug-resistant organisms in diabetic foot infection

Xi Yan1†, Jin‑fang Song2,3*†, Liang Zhang4 and Xia Li2

Abstract

Background: To study the bacteriological characteristics, risk factors, and treatment of multi-drug resistance (MDR) organisms in patients with diabetic foot infection.

Methods: Patients with diabetic foot ulcer admitted to hospital from June 2018 to December 2019 (n =180) were selected as clinical subjects. Demographic information, routine blood test, wound culture and sensitivity were col‑lected. Risk factors of MDR bacteria were analyzed.

Results: Among 180 patients with diabetic foot ulcer, 146 were positive in bacterial culture, with 84 positive in MDR bacteria. A total of 182 strains were isolated, with 104 strains being multi-drug resistant. Body mass index, glycosylated hemoglobin, fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, course of ulcer, size of ulcer, peripheral neuropathy, peripheral vascu‑lar disease, osteomyelitis, peripheral blood leukocyte count, percentage of neutrophils, and previous use of antibiotics were the related factors of infection of MDR bacteria in diabetic foot ulcer patients (P<0.05). The leukocyte count and neutrophil ratio of MDR-bacilli were lower than those of non MDR-bacilli (P<0.05).

Conclusion: The risk of MDR bacteria in diabetic foot infection is high. It is necessary to evaluate the risk of multid‑rug-resistant bacteria by characterizing the course of disease, metabolic control, local ulcer and other aspects in order to formulate an efective treatment plan. The decrease of leukocyte count and neutrophil ratio may be related to damage of the host immune response.

Keywords: Diabetic foot ulcers, Diabetic food infection, Multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Systemic sclerosis is associated with lower limb vascular stiffness and microvascular impairment: results from a prospective study

Charles Cassius1,2,3 iD Vannina Seta4 & Jean-Benoit Monfort 1 & Nathalie Abdoucheli Baudot1 & Sébastien Rivière5 & Arsène Mekinian5 & Camille Frances1 & Annick Barbaud1 & Patricia Senet 1 Received: 12 January 2021 / Revised: 10 February 2021 /Accepted: 1 March 2021 # International League of Associations for Rheumatology (ILAR) 2021

Abstract

       Objective Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized by microangiopathy. Peripheral arterial disease, increasingly studied during SSc, is responsible for digital ulcers, associated with a high risk of amputation. The aim of our study was to assess the frequency of lower limb arterial impairment in SSc patients by measuring ankle-brachial index (ABI), toe pressure (TP), and toe-brachial index (TBI).

       Methods Systemic sclerosis patients were included prospectively during 1 year in Tenon and Saint-Antoine Hospitals, Paris.Clinical and biological data were recorded. For each patient, ABI, TP, and TBI were measured and an arterial duplex ultrasonography was prescribed in case of abnormal results.

       Results Eighty-six patients were included (94% women, median age 62 years). Only 24% of them had no lower limb hemodynamic vascular abnormalities; 44% had an isolated microvascular abnormality (normal ABI and TBI<0.75); 31% had at least a macrovascular injury associated or not with microvascular impairment (abnormal ABI) and 12.6% had a TP<50 mmHg. During follow-up, there was a trend towards association of low TBI with more major adverse event (all-cause mortality, non-fatal stroke, non-fatal myocardial infarction, and lower limb ischemic manifestations) than normal TBI. Conclusion By measuring ABI and TP, we showed that 76% of SSc patients had hemodynamic arterial lower limb abnormalities related to macro- and/or microvascular impairment and that 28% had vascular stiffness. In SSc patients, ABI is not an accurate tool to detect lower limb arterial disease, likely due to underlying micro- and macrovascular changes.

Key Points

      The presence of lower limb macro-and/or microvascular involvement was detected in 76% of SSc patients.

      In SSc patients, ABI is not an accurate tool to detect lower limb arterial disease, likely due to underlying microvascular changes and frequent arterial.

Keywords Ankle-brachial index . Microangiopathy . Peripheral arterial disease . Systemic sclerosis . Toe-brachial index . Vascular stiffness

Treatment of Wound Healing with Sequential Therapy to Accelerate Recovery and Inhibit Scar Hyperplasia: A Case Report

Study Design/Patients and Methods: A 19-year-old male was reported to have a postoperative facial trauma suture as a result of being involved in a car accident. Red light emitting diode (LED) therapy (20 min, 96 J/cm2 , 633 nm), Botulinum Toxin Type A 36 IU injection, Broad Band Light and Er:YAG laser at various stages of wound healing were applied as the sequential therapy.

Results: Since the correction was promptly apparent and acceptable, the treatment proved secure and efficacious for repairing wound healing.

Conclusion: Clinically sequential therapy has demonstrated marked improvement in our case. Scar sequential therapy may offer a new strategy for wound healing recovery.

Keywords: wound healing, scar, keloid, treatment

The microbiology of diabetic foot infections: a meta-analysis

Katherine E. Macdonald1 , Sophie Boeckh2 , Helen J. Stacey3 and Joshua D. Jones1*

Abstract

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers are a common complication of poorly controlled diabetes and often become infected, termed diabetic foot infection. There have been numerous studies of the microbiology of diabetic foot infection but no meta-analysis has provided a global overview of these data. This meta-analysis aimed to investigate the prevalence of bacteria isolated from diabetic foot infections using studies of any design which reported diabetic foot infection culture results.

Methods: The Medline, EMBASE, Web of Science and BIOSIS electronic databases were searched for studies published up to 2019 which contained microbiological culture results from at least 10 diabetic foot infection patients. Two authors independently assessed study eligibility and extracted the data. The main outcome was the prevalence of each bacterial genera or species.

Results: A total of 112 studies were included, representing 16,159 patients from which 22,198 microbial isolates were obtained. The organism most commonly identified was Staphylococcus aureus, of which 18.0% (95% CI 13.8–22.6%; I2=93.8% [93.0–94.5%]) was MRSA. Other highly prevalent organisms were Pseudomonas spp., E. coli and Enterococcusspp. A correlation was identified between Gross National Income and the prevalence of Gram positive or negative organisms in diabetic foot infections.

Conclusion: The microbiology of diabetic foot infections is diverse, but S. aureus predominates. The correlation between the prevalence of Gram positive and negative organisms and Gross National Income could reflect differences in healthcare provision and sanitation. This meta-analysis has synthesised multiple datasets to provide a global overview of the microbiology of diabetic foot infections that will help direct the development of novel therapeutics.

Keywords: Diabetes, Diabetic foot infection, Diabetic foot ulcer, Meta-analysis, Microbiology, Prevalence