Protective Measures For Burn Care Professionals During The Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic: Systematic Review

Ann Burns Fire Disasters. 2020 Sep 30;33(3):182-190.

Abstract
in English, French

The emergence of a novel human β coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has developed into a global pandemic and public health emergency. The management of patients with burns must be adapted to this context. The aim of this systematic review is to identify the optimal protection measures during the COVID-19 pandemic and provide guidance of protective measures for burn surgeons. A systematic search of PubMed was performed for articles about COVID-19. "Burn units", "burns", "COVID-19", "health personnel", "protective devices", "severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2", "surgeons" and "telemedicine" were reviewed during the entire diagnosis and management process of burn patients. Eight articles were included, and five articles emphasized that burn care professionals should pay attention to prevent cross-infection. Only three articles reported in detail how burn care professionals should be protected during surgery in the operating room. These experiences and strategies can help burn care professionals work safely and effectively, and prevent both nosocomial infections and burn care professional infections during the global pandemic of COVID-19.

La survenue de la pandémie COVID19 a entraîné une urgence pour les services de santé, et nécessité une adaptation des soins aux brûlés. Le but de cette revue est d’identifier les mesures de protection optimales dans ce contexte afin de publier un guide pour les chirurgiens brûlologues (sic!!!, NDRLF). Une recherche PubMed a été effectuée avec les termes “COVID19”, “burn units”, “burns”, “health personnel”, “protective devices”, “severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2”, “surgeons” et “telemedicine”. Huit articles ont été parmi lesquels 5 insistaient sur le fait que les professionnels de santé devaient faire attention aux contaminations croisées. Seuls trois détaillaient les mesures per opératoires. Ces stratégies et expériences peuvent aider les professionnels de la brûlologie à travailler efficacement et sans risque de contamination (personnelle et aux patients) aussi bien par COVID que par d’autres pathogènes.

Keywords: COVID-19; burn units; burns; health personnel; protective devices; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; surgeons; telemedicine.